Just a short while ago Motorola celebrated 45 years of mobile phone manufacturer. The company behind the world's first commercial handheld mobile phone has certainly come a long way over the decades. From brick phones big enough to tear your pocket to smartphones rotating keyboards, Motorola has dabbled in everything. 

Since 1983, when the Dynatac 8000x - aka the grandaddy of cellphones - burst onto the scene, Motorola has been making a wide range of mobile phones, messaging phones, clamshell phones, fashion phones, and smartphones.

Browsing through old pictures of Motorola devices, whether or not they were good products, is bound to open up a nostalgic floodgate for most people. 

We're taking a look back to show the most iconic, interesting and unusual Motorola devices from over the years. Which of these do you remember?

Motorola DynaTAC (1983)

You've seen this before. If you haven't, you're probably 12. It became the first cell phone to be offered commercially and is fondly remembered as an iconic part of the 1980s. When it released, it was also considered a symbol of wealth and futurism. Now it looks extremely archaic and almost comical, but this phone heralded the future of the modern smartphone.

Motorola MicroTac (1989)

The MicroTAC was the smallest and lightest phone available at the time and made headlines across the world. It was truly portable and ended up in just about every music video throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Motorola StarTAC (1996)

Ah, the "It" phone. The StarTAC was the successor of the MicroTAC, a semi-clamshell phone that had been launched in 1989. The StarTAC was among the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption.

Motorola D160 (1997)

If you couldn't afford the StarTAC in the 1990s, then you got the D160. It's also remembered as being one of the first PAYG (pay-as-you-go) phones.

Motorola I1000 Plus (1998)

The i1000plus was the world's first handset to combine a digital phone, two-way radio, alphanumeric pager, Internet microbrowser, e-mail, fax and two-way messaging.

Motorola Timeport (1999)

The Motorola Timeport is one of several candybar phones manufactured by Motorola. Its design included an Organic Electroluminescent display, which wasn't fully colour but included classic greens, blues and reds of the time. The Timeport made its name by working on GSM 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900Mhz networks meaning it could work in the UK, most of Europe and the United States too. This phone was the executive's phone of choice at the time. 

Motorola V100 (1999)

Described as a personal communicator as well as a phone, the V100 propelled the two-way messaging craze. Vibration alerts, mono ringtones and a funky design made this one pretty popular. 

Motorola Timeport P7389i (2000)

Motorola and Cisco Systems supplied the world's first commercial GPRS cellular network to BT Cellnet in the UK. The Timeport P7389i then became the first GPRS cellular phone.

Motorola V70 (2002)

The V70 certainly sported a pretty cool look. This instantly recognisable design was considered a fashion phone back in its day. A swivelling circular monochrome panel with a neon backlight keypad and interchangeable frames made this a pretty snazzy device from Motorola. The Motorola V70 had a WAP browser, GPRS capabilities, a vibrating mode and voice dialling.

Motorola T720 (2002)

Often described as a cross between the StarTAC and V60 series, the T720 notably included customisation features. Owners were able to change the phone's front and black plates to customise and personalise the look of their device. 

Motorola C200 (2003)

This phone was pretty boring for its time, but its simple design and cheap price tag made it the company’s third highest-selling cellphone of all time. The Motorola C200 was so well built that some users were claiming to still be using this phone, with its original battery, as late as 2011. 

Motorola A760 (2003)

The A760 was world's first handset to combine a Linux operating system and Java technology with full PDA functionality. Highlights of this device included a digital camera, video player, MP3 player, speakerphone, multimedia messaging and even Bluetooth technology. 

Motorola I730 (2003)

This phone spearheaded the PTT (push-to-talk) craze. It was a Nextel-operated device and became synonymous with the carrier. It also boasted a fancy display capable of supporting up to 65,000 colours. A classic flip phone loved by many. 

Motorola RAZR (2004)

Back in 2004, we had plenty of good things to say about the Motorola RAZR. Its extremely thin design made it stand out from the competition, and this particular model is now often associated with the entire Razr series. A slim and metallic body spoke of the future of minimalistic smartphone design and saw this device being marketed as an exclusive fashion phone. The RAZR proved wildly successful and Motorola sold over 50 million units by 2006. 

Motorola PEBL (2005)

The Motorola PEBL was a classic clam-shell mobile phone that could be snapped open with one hand and featured a highly polished metal finish and a cool (for the time) appearance. It supported the triband network, had a whopping 5 megabytes of memory and even sported a VGA camera.  

Motorola ROKR E1 (2005)

The Motorola ROKR E1 saw Motorola pairing up with Apple to create a brand new device that would be the first phone to support iTunes syncing - the second one being the Apple iPhone in 2007. The Motorola ROKR E1 allowed users to take 100 tracks from their iTunes collection out and about with them. This paled in insignificance when compared with the Apple iPod and a slow transfer rate resulted in a lack of appeal and lacklustre sales.

Motorola Krzr K1 (2006)

As a clamshell/flip phone, the KRZR was longer but narrower than the Motorola Razr. The KRZR series kicked off with the K1.  Motorola was trying to rejuvenate the success of the original RAZR with this new device that included a 2-megapixel camera, an MP3 player and a snazzy design. We thought it was certainly a safe upgrade from the RAZR, but hardly a radical and exciting departure.

Read: Motorola MOTOKRZR K1 mobile phone review

Motorola Q (2006)

The Motorola Q was a non-touchscreen phone that ran Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition OS. With the Motorola Q, the company was attempting to offer an alternative to BlackBerry that was incredibly popular with business folk of the time. 

The Moto Q featured a QWERTY keyboard, integrated Bluetooth technology, EV-DO access, wireless sync for any time connectivity with email, calendar and contacts synchronisation as well as support for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat. But none of these features was enough to dethrone BlackBerry. 

Motorola SLVR L6 (2006)

Known for its thin design, the L6 held the title of the thinnest mobile phone in the UK before the Samsung P300 came along. The Motorola SLVR L6 was ideal for the fashionista on a budget (as we put it in 2006). It had a few things going for it, but wasn't without its flaws.  

Read the review: Motorola SLVR L6 review

Motorola Rizr Z8 (2007)

The Motorola Rizr Z8 featured an incredibly funky design for the time. We enjoyed the tactile feel and the classic Motorola materials combined with the kick-slider design. While other phones of the time were focussed on music, the Motorola Rizr Z8 was pitched as a video device. A screen that supported 16 million colours and 30FPS were the other highlights, as were the HSDPA connectivity, stereo Bluetooth, 2-megapixel camera and an expandable microSD slot.

Read the first-look: Motorola MotoRIZR Z8 mobile phone

Motorola ROKR E8 (2008)

The Motorola Rokr E8 wanted to be everyone's music player and that much was clear from the four-way music controls featured prominently on the design. At the time, we thought the music sounded great, but it wasn't the most advanced phone on the market and other features had suffered in favour of music capabilities. Still, at least it had a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Read the full review: Motorola Rokr E8 mobile phone

Motorola AURA (2008)

The Motorola Aura bore a striking similarity to the V70 from a few years previous. But this outlandish mobile represented an entry into the elite world of high-end mobile phones with a £1,400 price tag that puts even today's flagships to shame. Made from stainless steel, the Motorola Aura also boasted moving cogs and a circular screen protected by a Swiss-made lens. 

This phone was well and truly about looks over functionality. No Wi-Fi, 3G or microSD card slot and certainly no apps to speak of, but it did look pretty special. 

Read our review: Motorola Aura review

Motorola ZN5 (2008)

The Motorola ZN5 saw Motorola pushing hard to regain the glory days of the RAZR. This time Motorola collaborated with Kodak to release a device with a focus on photography. This candybar style phone included a 5-megapixel camera as well as optimisation for multimedia applications. We found the ZN5 to be a bit underwhelming at the time, but it's certainly another of Motorola's more interesting devices. 

Read the review: Motorola ZN5 mobile phone

Motorola Droid (2009)

The Motorola Droid was a multi-media enable smartphone that ran Google's Android operating system. The Droid launched with Android Eclair (Android 2.0) and helped kick off one of the most successful mobile franchises in the world. At the time, we thought the Motorola Droid was a fantastic device offering a state-of-the-art experience with flawless telephone reception to boot. 

Read the review: Motorola Droid review

Motorola Droid X (2010)

This device revamped the Droid series by ditching the huge, heavy design often associated with Droids in favour of a (at that time, anyway) slim design. Despite this, it was still large and hardly the prettiest device around, but it did include an 8-megapixel camera and excellent video capture too. The Droid X certainly had a lot going for it and ran on Android 2.2 with Swype pre-installed, which made it interesting after the ditching of the slide out keyboard. 

Read the review: Droid X by Motorola

Motorola MING A1680 (2011)

The Motorola Ming was a mobile phone sold in Hong Kong and China only. It was part of a series of devices with interesting specifications, this model included a transparent clamshell cover and stylus pen. Certainly quirky. 

Motorola ATRIX 4G (2011)

After a high-profile debut at CES 2011, this device is ultimately remembered for its gimmicky laptop dock. Motorola's focus was on a device that put a computer in your pocket and came with a range of accessories too. The Motorola ATRIX was likely the forefather of the current Moto Mods and showed that Motorola wasn't afraid to innovate. 

Read the review: Motorola Atrix review

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx (2012)

Resurrecting the Razr series, the Maxx had a long-lasting battery life and impressive Smart Actions software. The Motorola Droid Razr Maxx once again saw Motorola trying to relive the hazy days of RAZR glory. This new device might not have had the same style as the original device, but what it did have was a smashing battery - which lasted for as much as two days. At the time, it was likely the best Android device to own, especially if you wanted it to last and last. The lack of Android 4 at launch had many upset though. 

Read the review: Motorola Razr Maxx review

Motorola Droid 4 (2012)

A part of the Verizon Droid franchise, the Droid 4 is considered one of the last great QWERTY smartphones. It supposedly perfected the mobile keyboard with responsive, tactile, and strong keys.

Moto X (2013)

Motorola Moto X was Motorola's first flagship after becoming a Google-owned company and as such, it was much anticipated and much sought after. It wasn't really much of a flagship though, aimed more at the mass market and designed to appeal to everyone it didn't have the bleeding edge specs many would hope for from a flagship device. It did, however, offer customisation options and some funky aesthetics thanks to Moto Maker. 

The Motorola Moto X was a pretty great phone with a variety of interesting features and smart technologies. It also had a great price and was certainly accessible to the average consumer. 

Read the review: Motorola Moto X review

Motorola Droid Turbo (2014)

A part of the Verizon Droid franchise, the Droid Turbo was a high-end Android smartphone that boasted a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution. Highlights to this phone included a 20.7 rear-facing camera with a dual flash and 4K video recording capabilities. The Droid Turbo was a specs powerhouse and promised to outperform the Nexus 6 but lacked the latest version of the Android. 

Nexus 6 (2014)

The Nexus 6 saw Motorola going large with a Nexus device that moved into the phablet territory. This phone had many saying it was "too big" but was also rejoiced for being a fantastic all-around smartphone running the latest version of Android that was always sure to appeal to true Android fans. 

The Nexus 6 followed the design of the Moto X and it looked really good for it too. We thought the Nexus 6 had plenty of power, good all-round performance and a solid build backed by an attractive design. 

Read the review: Nexus 6 review: Highly accomplished, but a bit of a handful

Moto G 3rd Gen (2015)

The first generation of the Moto G smartphone was Motorola's best-selling smartphone ever. It was also was among the company's last new products before its acquisition by Lenovo in 2014. It was no surprise then to see a third generation of the Moto G released in 2015. This Moto G offered 4G capabilities at a budget price point as well as Android Lollipop operating system, a few added software bonuses from Motorola and a solid battery life. We thought the Moto G was a solid all-around performer. 

Read the review: Motorola Moto G (2015) review: Budget big screen adds 4G, lacks new design thrills

Moto z and Moto Mods (2016)

The Moto Z was all about mods - clip-on modules offering a variety of different highlights including speakers, improved cameras and much more. This certainly made the phone stand out, but also assumed you'd want to spend more money in order to accessorise your smartphone. The Moto Z wasn't a flagship device, but it was certainly interesting. 

Read the review: Motorola Moto Z review: A modular muddle

Motorola Moto Z Play (2017)

2017's Moto Z Play was an impressive phone for sure. A big, beautiful and brilliant smartphone that was capable of lasting a full day without needing any extra juice. 

Mods were a big part of the Moto Z Play's design - offering a customisable device with a surprisingly affordable price tag. 

Read the review: Motorola Moto Z Play review: Unbeatable battery life bettered by Mods

Motorola Moto G6 (2018)

The Moto G6 continued a successful line of affordable smartphones that started in 2013. It was also feature-packed for such an affordable device with a dual camera, fast-charging, an 18:9 aspect ratio screen, fingerprint scanner and more.

The Moto G6 also offered the premium look and feel of more expensive devices of the time, without the hefty price tag. 

Read the review: Motorola Moto G6 review: The affordable smartphone, reinvented

Motorola Moto One (2018)

The Moto One released in 2018 as an interestingly affordable phone that was pitched as cheaper than the Moto G range. This device also shipped with Google's Android One software giving users (in Google's words) "the best version of Android, right out of the box". 

This phone featured a decent day-to-day performance and clean software but lacked some of the specs of mid-range and premium devices that might have made it more appealing. Proof that you do get what you pay for though and a very good phone for the money.  

Read the review: Motorola Moto One review: The affordable, affable mid-ranger

Motorola Moto G8 Plus (2019)

The Moto G8 Plus is 2019's affordable smartphone and a solo handset that represented a move away from the standard, Plus, Play and Power variants. 

The G8 Plus is essentially an affordable phone with excellent battery life, decent feature set and a fantastic price tag. 

• Motorola Moto G8 Plus review: Specced-up and priced down

Motorola Moto One Macro (2019)

The Motorola Moto One Macro is an odd addition to Motorola's line-up. This smartphone has a particular focus on macro photography, which is certainly different from other devices out there. It also comes with Android One styling and a low, low price tag too. 

• Motorola Moto One Macro review: Getting up close and personal

That's just a small selection of the Motorola phones from over the years, any you remember fondly that we've missed? Let us know in the comments. 

Stranger Things is undoubtedly one of the best horror/adventure series around but now that you've finished the latest run, what's next?

The netgem.tv service makes great and personalised recommendations of programmes and films for you to watch each and every day. And, with its Freeview Play access and integrated apps, including Amazon Prime Video and Rakuten TV, it enables you to stream great shows and films on demand on its dedicated set-top-boxes, catch them live or watch anything you missed from the most popular free players: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 and UKTV Play.

That's why Pocket-lint has joined forces with the netgem.tv team to bring you a curated list of recommended shows that we think all Stranger Things fans will love.

• NetBox HD offers Freeview Play & streaming services with voice control
• If you're a Three UK customer, check out this special offer available via your Wuntu App

American Horror Story

• Where: Rakuten TV
• When: Available to buy now

One of the creepiest TV series around is still going, having almost finished its ninth season and you really must catch some of the previous years' box sets if you haven't managed to already. It also doesn't matter which you decide to jump on first, as each season is a self-contained mini-series, loosely based on terrifying true events and featuring an all-new cast each time. Previous stars have included Kathy Bates, James Cromwell, Jessica Lange and Lady Gaga.

Fear the Walking Dead

• Where: Amazon Prime Video
• When: Available now

Unlike parent series The Walking Dead, Fear... doesn't use storylines first adopted by the Robert Kirkman comic books, so has plenty of surprises even if you've read them. There have been five seasons so far, with a sixth on the horizon so there's plenty of zombie horror fun to be catching up with.

Inside No. 9

• Where: BBC iPlayer
• When: Available now

Created by and starring two-thirds of the League of Gentlemen, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, Inside No. 9 is a darkly comic series with nods towards Hitchcock and Hammer House of Horror movies. Each episode is a self-contained story inside a different number 9, whether that be a door number, train carriage or something more sinister.

Grimm

• Where: Amazon Prime Video
• When: Available now

Homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) discovers that he is more than a police officer, he is also a Grimm - a guardian in the real world assigned to protect it against mythological monsters and dangerous creatures only thought to exist in fairytales. All six seasons are available to cram through as part of an Amazon Prime subscription.

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

• Where: All 4
• When: Available now

One of the funniest comedies of recent times and featuring Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade in early roles, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a spoof collection of spooky sci-fi shows, purportedly lost since the 1980s. "Horror writer" Marenghi (played by the superb Matthew Holness) presides over each episode to hilarious effect.

Sleepy Hollow

• Where: Amazon Prime Video
• When: Available now

The entirety of the Sleepy Hollow TV series is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. It is based on the supernatural tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", but unlike the Johnny Depp-starring movie of the same name, the action this time is set in the present day. Ichabod Crane (Tom Milson) wakes up in modern day America after 232 years to find out the horrific Horseman is back.

A netgem.tv set-top-box is available from £49. Click here to find out more.

The annual cycle of Android rolls on, with the latest version of the Google mobile software being called Android 9 Pie.

Android P was first revealed at Google I/O 2018 on 8 May 2018, and like previous versions, launched as a public beta shortly after. Android Pie has officially released on 6 August 2018. 

Of course that doesn't mean you'll get it straight away. As for when all other handsets will get the official Android 9 Pie release, Google said it'll come to devices that participated in Google's beta program sometime around autumn 2018 or after and that process has already started. 

• Android 9 Pie: All the new features and details
• Best mobile phone deals

Android 9 Pie update for Google Pixel devices

Pixel devices are always the first to get a new version of Android. The official rollout started in August 2018, so you should have the new software already if you have any of the Pixel devices. If you join the new Android 9 Pie beta, you can test additional features that are not ready.

• Google Pixel
• Google Pixel XL
• Google Pixel 2
• Google Pixel 2 XL

It looks like support for Android 9 Pie will end there. There was no developer preview for older Google or Nexus devices, and Google has confirmed that there's no final release support for these devices.

Asus Android 9 Pie update

Asus is only really just getting back into gear with phones in Europe, but has launched a lot of phones with very little commitment to speedy updates. Here's what we've heard about so far:

• Asus Zenfone 5Z - January 2019
• Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 - February 2019
• Asus Zenfone Max M2 - January 2019
• Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 - March 2019
• Asus Zenfone Pro M2 - January 2019
• Asus ROG phone - November 2019

BlackBerry Mobile

Currently there's no official word on when the BlackBerry Key2 will be getting the update, but TCL has committed to providing the update.

Black Shark

• Black Shark 1 - September 2019

Essential

The update to Android 9 Pie on Essential happened on 6 August when Google pushed the update.

• Essential EN1 - from 6 August 2018

HTC

HTC's update record with Android actually isn't too bad, but it's basically the slowest to move to Pie. The company confirmed loose update plans on 11 March via Twitter and then again on 13 May 2019.

Exact dates remain to be seen, but the following devices are confirmed:

• HTC 12+ - August 2019
• HTC U11 - August 2019
• HTC U11+ - August 2019
• HTC U11 Life - from 29 November 2018

Huawei

Huawei's record of device updates hasn't always been the best. However, more recently it has become more interested in launching devices on the latest version and toning back EMUI. Some Android P beta testing has already been conducted on some devices, with EMUI 9.0 expected to come with Android Pie.

Huawei has made a stand and confirmed the following devices, with the roll-out starting on 9 November, although we've yet to actually see any updates happen. Further details of the push were confirmed on 18 December.

• Huawei Mate 10 - from 18 December 2018
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro - from 18 December
• Huawei P20 - from 18 December
• Huawei P20 Pro - from 18 December
• Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 - February 2019
• Porsche Design Mate RS - March 2019

Honor

Honor has launched a lot of phones recently and has so far said nothing about phones getting the update - although we suspect it's in the same boat as Huawei with EMUI - that Android Pie will come with EMUI 9. Some beta testing has taken place on recent launches, so we suspect these devices are a safe bet of a Pie update.

These are the devices officially confirmed, with the roll-out from 9 November, although confirmation then appeared that it was from 18 December.

• Honor 10 - from 18 December
• Honor View 10 - from 18 December
• Honor Play - from 18 December

LG

LG has made a lot more noise about speeding up software updates, opening a dedicated centre to focus on updates, drip feeding information on updates.

• LG G6 - from October 2019
• LG G7 One - from 19 November
• LG G7 ThinQ - in beta, Q1 2019 roll-out
• LG V30 - from September 2019
• LG V35 ThinQ - April 2019 (Korea)
• LG V40 ThinQ - June 2019 (testing with T-Mobile)

Motorola

Motorolahas announced the update will hit eight phones.

• Motorola One - from 12 December 2018
• Motorola One Power - from 16 November
• Moto Z3 - April 2019
• Moto Z3 Play - February 2019
• Moto Z2 Force Edition - Q2 2019
• Moto Z2 Play - September 2019
• Moto X4 - from 12 December 2018
• Moto G6 Plus - December 2018
• Moto G6 - February 2019
• Moto G6 Play - February 2019

Nokia

Nokia is actually in a very strong position when it comes to updates. The company seems to have grasped the idea of speed, being one of the first to adopt Oreo. It's also running Android One across its new portfolio, so we you'll be seeing updates across the board.

Hi, Android Pie will be available for the Nokia 3, 5, 6 and 8. Roll-out will be phased as usual to secure quality delivery. Nokia 7 Plus is part of the Android One program, which guarantees two years of software updates, including Pie.

— Nokia Mobile (@Nokiamobile) August 8, 2018

The fact that the Nokia 7 Plus was on the beta is a very good sign, because devices that participated in Google's beta program, including HMD/Nokia and Android One devices, will update to Android 9 Pie this autumn. The roll-out to Nokia 7 Plus started on 28 September 2018.

At the launch of the Nokia 7.1, HMD Global confirmed that the rollout for the Nokia 6.1, 8 and 8 Sirocco was also about to begin.

Devices to get Android 9 Pie:

• Nokia 3 - February 2019
• Nokia 5 - 24 January 2019
• Nokia 5.1 Plus - from 27 December 2018
• Nokia 6 (2017) - from 20 February 2018
• Nokia 6.1 (2018) - from 30 October 2018
• Nokia 7 Plus - from 28 September 2018
• Nokia 8 - November 2018
• Nokia 8 Sirocco - 9 January 2019

OnePlus

OnePlus has a small portfolio compared to some other manufacturers, but it was on the Android 9 Pie beta for the OnePlus 6. OnePlus has actually moved fast, pushing Android Pie out for the OnePlus 6, with others to follow. The staged rollout started on Friday 21 September.

Devices confirmed to get Android 9 Pie:

• OnePlus 6 - from 21 September, 16 October for UK
• OnePlus 5 - from 25 December
• OnePlus 5T - from 25 December
• OnePlus 3 - from May 2019
• OnePlus 3T - from May 2019 

Razer

• Razer Phone 2 - from 28 February 2019

Samsung Android 9 update

Samsung is a different beast altogether and it looks like there's a complete change in UI coming to Samsung. The Samsung One UI has been demonstrated and confirmed for a number of devices, along with Android 9 Pie. The dates may differ in different regions, but we do at least have some concrete information about Samsung's Pie update:

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 - January 2019, from 27 December in beta in India and US
• Samsung Galaxy S9+ - January 2019
• Samsung Galaxy S9 - January 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 - March 2019
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ - March 2019
• Samsung Galaxy S8 - March 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 - April 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 - August 2019
• Samsung Galaxy A6 - April 2019
• Samsung Galaxy A7 - April 2019
• Samsung Galaxy A8 - April 2019
• Samsung Galaxy A9 - April 2019

Sony Xperia

The fact that the Sony Xperia XZ2 was on the beta is a good sign, as is the fact that the Xperia XZ3 launched on Android Pie.

Sony has confirmed Android 9 Pie will come to the following devices:

• Sony Xperia XZ2 - Roll out started 12 October
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact - Roll out started 12 October
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium - from 7 November 2018
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium - from 14 November 2018
• Sony Xperia XZ1 - from 14 November 2018
• Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact - from 14 November 2018
• Sony Xperia XA2 - 4 March 2019
• Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra - 4 March 2019
• Sony Xperia XA2 Plus - 4 March 2019

Xiaomi

With Xiaomi coming to the UK from 8 November, we've added the Chinese company here to keep track of updates. The company's phones run MIUI, a skin over the top of Android, but we'll be sure to chase down the details of when Pie is coming to its phones.

• Xiaomi Mi 2A - from 18 December 2018
• Pocophone F1 - from 10 December 2018
• Xiaomi Mi 8 - January 2019
• Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro - January 2019

These days it seems like our children spend just as much time online as we do, maybe even more. That’s where Qustodio comes in.

It’s a parental control app that is versatile, sophisticated and easy to use that helps you control and monitor how your children use their smartphones.

What is Qustodio?

Qustodio is the leading digital safety and well-being platform for families. It provides powerful monitoring tools and parental controls for things like screen time, as well as how much time they spend in certain apps like games.

What devices does it work on?  

It works on a wide range of different devices including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones whether they run Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Amazon's Fire OS.

Build a safe and productive digital environment

Qustodio makes it easy to supervise your kids time on each device, enabling you to do things like allowing you to block inappropriate content with filters – even if they use a private browsing mode - and balance screen time by limiting your child's access to devices.

You can also set time limits for games and apps, as well as blocking apps you don't want from running altogether. You’re also able to monitor and manage the time they can spend on social networks like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.

Qustodio is quick and easy to set up. Simply set up a free account via the Qustodio website and then download the app to your children’s device. You’ll then be able to manage all the devices your kids are using via a family portal.

It's accessible on the web or Qustodio App used by parents on their devices. You can see reports and manage all the devices your child or children have access to.

The online dashboard is intuitive and easy to use and provides in-depth reporting on online activity such as the time spent on each app and browser history. If they have an Android phone, you can also view sent and received text messages. You can also use Qustodio’s Family Locator feature, which enables you to use GPS tracking to see exactly where your children are and where they’ve been.

Through the dashboard, you can easily set usage limits and manage a child’s online access by blocking troublesome sites to ensure they enjoy a safe browsing experience.

Ensuring their digital wellbeing

Qustodio also helps you to manage your family’s tech-life balance or digital wellbeing as it's become known as. With more and more concerns being raised in the media about how much time kids spend on their devices, making sure they are doing their homework rather than chatting on WhatsApp can be a constant battle in some households.

Qustodio allows you to control individual app blocking, game blocking and set screen time limits so you can control for how long your child uses their device without having to monitor it while you're busy elsewhere.

Smart filters and premium subscriptions

The success of the system comes from Qustodio's simplicity and its advanced features. For instance, filters can block inappropriate content even if the user has private browsing mode turned on.

In addition to the free service, Qustodio also offers Premium subscriptions delivering more advanced features, such as a 30-day breakdown of all device activity, monitoring of social network activity and a new system for monitoring what your child looks for and watches on YouTube.

Rather than having to remember when to tell your children to come off their devices or stop using a specific app, Qustodio can manage that for you. The screen says “Time's Up” to tell them they need to come back tomorrow - easing you from having to be the nagging parent. You can set time limits for individual games and apps, or block them altogether.

Special features for Android

When using Qustodio on Android, you can access your child's texts, and see who's calling them and who they're calling. You can also block specific contacts to stop them from contacting - or being contacted by - certain people so they don't get to phone-specific people if that becomes an issue.

Android users also have a very sensible option of being able to send a panic alert if they are in trouble or an emergency situation with the app's Panic Button. Using the button instantly sends a notification to the parent's app showing time and location of the alert allowing you to come to the rescue.

Conclusion

Pricing starts at £35.95 a year for up to 5 devices for the premium subscription and you can add more devices with bigger plans if you need. 

Qustodio offers maximum parental involvement at either a low cost or none at all. Not to mention real peace of mind with the easy to manage dashboard.

Used correctly and in collaboration with your kids, it can be a game-changer for ensuring they aren't spending hours glued to a screen.

• Sign up to Qustodio now

Electric cars are already a mainstay on Britain's roads, with a growing number of all-electric models being available to buy right now. The electric effect is now in full force, with established brands committing to offering a wider range of pure electric cars in the future, while those who depend heavily on diesel are seeing sales falter.

Prices are falling, models are diversifying and it's all going hand-in-hand with increased investment and roll-out of charging networks.

But what electric cars are coming? Let's take a closer look at what you can expect to see hitting the roads in the next few years.

Ford Mustang electric

Ford announced at the Detroit Motor Show 2018 that it will invest $11 billion in electric vehicles. There has been a lot of talk Ford using VW's electric platform which will help kickstart a move into EVs and we're expecting the Mustang-inspired electric SUV to be announced on 18 November.

The "electric Mustang-inspired utility" is one of the vehicles in development. Ford has said it's coming in 2020 and started talking about range - with 370 miles expected. There's also talk that Ford is going to be targeting the mass market, so it shouldn't be too expensive. 

Fisker Ocean

Fisker is trying to shake things up with a range of luxury electric cars. The next to get an official reveal will be the Fisker Ocean, scheduled for a 4 January 2020 unveiling - although reservations for the sustainable electric SUV will be opening on 27 November 2019. Reservations will happen via and app, with Fisker saying it's skipping the traditional concept reveal and just showing you the car. It will use recycled and vegan materials, have an 80kWh battery and a range of 250-300 miles.

VW electric SUV

VW has confirmed that its all-electric SUV will be launching in early 2020. While the ID.3 won't be appearing in the US, this SUV will be. We suspect that it's based on the same sort of underpinnings from VW's MEB platform, offering a choice of battery capacities and ranges. There's no official name for this new model (show camouflaged in a box at IAA 2019), but it's thought to be based on the VW T-Cross or ID.Crozz concept.

Electric Range Rover

There's a fully electric Range Rover in the works, going under the name of Road Rover, because it's going to be slightly more road-centric than some of the other Range Rovers. It's supposed to sit between the Velar and the Evoque in terms of size, so it sounds a lot like the Jaguar i-Pace. Not much is currently known about what it might offer or when it might appear.

Mini Electric

The Mini Electric is available for pre-order, with prices from £24,400 for this Cooper S-rivalling electric car. It looks like a Mini and drives like a Mini, with a 32.6kWh battery, offering 124-144 miles of range and a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. There will be a range of trim options available, but all have the same performance. It's designed as a fun urban EV and designed to appeal to current Mini drivers. It will be available from March 2020. 

• Mini Electric: Everything you need to know

Honda e

The Honda e Prototype evolved the 2017 Honda Urban EV Concept with Honda saying that production of its compact urban electric vehicle will begin in 2019 - and it will just be called the Honda e when it hits the roads. It's designed to be small, targeting urban dwellers, and the performance specs being cited reflect that - a 200km range (125 miles).

It's also a five-door model, with cameras for mirrors - whether they will be available in all territories will depend on local regulations - and there's a digital rearview mirror too. Interestingly it's rear-wheel drive. Pre-orders are open for the new car which will cost from £26,160 in the UK.

Volkswagen ID.3

VW took to the stage at IAA 2019 - the Frankfurt motor show - and unveiled the long-anticipated ID.3. It's the first car in a sweeping run of changes for the company, looking to electrify across its portfolio. The ID.3 will be on the roads in 2020 - prices still aren't nailed down but "under €30,000" for the entry-level is the closest wheel get. 

It's futuristic inside, connected, comes with three different battery options, offering five doors and sits in a compact hatch positions, close to the size of a VW Golf.

• VW ID.3: Exploring VW's new electric car

Porsche Taycan

The Taycan has been unveiled, Porsche's pure electric sports car. Confusingly it comes in two versions - Turbo and Turbo S - although neither has an engine, so it's just a bit of heritage branding. The Taycan is a four-door sports car, with a glorious digital interior, but sitting on seriously fast underpinnings. There's a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds, with Porsche saying it will do this over and over. A big 93.4kW battery sits in the floor and it can charge at up to 270kWh, also seriously fast.

It will cost from £115k and orders are now open.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Volvo XC40 Recharge kicks-off Volvo's EV programme. It's based on the same XC40 that's been on the road a couple of years, although runs a new Android Automotive-based infotainment platform. There's a 78kWh battery, a 408hp output delivering a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds and it supports 150kW charging. 

The actual range should be around 250 miles, but we don't yet know the price - that will soon be revealed as the XC40 Recharge is due on roads in 2020.

Mazda MX-30

The Japanese company's first mass produced EV is called the MX-30. The car features an electric motor running the front wheels, which has been designed so a rotary motor can bolt onto it - which means hybrid models should also be possible for the relevant markets. It's a dynamic platform.

In terms of design, the use of suicide doors to the rear is an interesting choice. But as rear passengers won't be able to exit without the applicable front door being opened, it might be more gimmick than great. Expect to see the MX-30 on European roads come 2020.

Peugeot e-208

Peugeot's hot-selling city car was a big star of the Geneva 2019 show. Riffing off the style of the '80s 205 that's beloved of motoring journalists, Peugeot's put the cat amongst the pigeons by offering a 50kWh electric battery version, from launch.

Seat El-Born

Seat is joining the electric car movement with the E-Born, named after a region of Barcelona. The car sits on VW's MEB platform and is due to arrive in 2020, getting its first appearance at the Geneva International Motorshow in 2019 as a concept. Seat is looking at a 420km range (260 miles), with a 0-62kpm time of 7.5 seconds. There will be 204PS from the 150kW motor and a 62kWh battery. 

Polestar 2

Polestar - formerly the performance arm of Volvo - was spun out by owners Geely and has announced its second car, the Polestar 2. This five-door fastback EV will be offering 500km (310 miles) from an 87kWh battery, with 408bhp and all-wheel drive, while showing many hallmarks of Scandinavian design. It's also the first car to launch running Android natively, with a huge 11-inch tablet in the centre to control your navigation from Google Maps and your entertainment.

Reservations are currently open for the car which has a guide starting price of €39,900, although the launch edition (with lots of spec additions) will be available for €59,900. There's no confirmation of UK pricing, but it's going to widely available across Europe and in the US.

Byton M-Byte

Byton originally showed off an SUV EV concept, with broad ambitions for a start-up in the EV segment. That has now matured into the Byton M-Byte, with production getting started and looking to get on the road in mid-2020 - in China at least. The price of €54,000 sounds fairly aggressive, but there's little telling what verison that's for. There are two- or all-wheel drive options, with the latter claiming a 270 mile range. Most of the conversation is about the huge 43-inch display curving across the interior, however.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense

The E-Tense is DS Automobiles' electric version of the new DS 3 Crossback. This crossover model sits in the middle of a hatch and compact SUV models, offering quirky DS design. The regular versions will launch before the electric hits the road, but it will offer the same trim and options as the combustion models. The 50kWh battery promises 186 miles, but at the moment we don't have a launch date or price for this electric model.

• DS 3 Crossback E-Tense in pictures 

Aston Martin Rapide E

The Aston Martin Rapide E was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2019, a new all-electric sports car limited to 155 units, so it's going to be rare. It has a 65kWh battery from which Aston says it will get over 200 miles, a 0-62 time of under 4 seconds and that's repeatable performance. 

It uses an 800V system, with 100kW charging able to give you a full battery in less than an hour. The twin motors produce 610PS and drive the back wheels. Drivers will even get a digital display rather than dials. It's available to order now.

Lotus Evija

The Lotus Type 130 or Evija as it is called, is an all-electric hypercar limited to just 130 models, but paving the way for future production cars from Lotus. It has been designed for maximum performance, with 2000PS and a 70kWh battery that aims to give 250 miles of range. However, the car will offer blistering acceleration, and while Lotus hasn't given final figures, it'll hit 186mph in under 9 seconds. This car will cost £2 million pounds and preorders are open, asking for a £250,000 deposit.

Lightyear One

The Lightyear One is a luxury saloon that adds solar panels to the roof and bonnet of the car, aiming to give the owner a boost from the sun all the time - even when driving. While much of the car is conventional for an EV, the additional solar panels will give a 12km range boost per hour (in good light). That might mean free charging while parked at the beach - although in winter you'll have to charge it more. However, the asking price for the limited-run Lightyear One will be €119,000, so going solar comes at a price.

Tesla Model Y

We all know that Tesla wanted to launch another car and the Model Y slips into the space between the Model 3 and the Model X, a compact SUV. The interior leans towards the Model 3, while the range offers 242 miles with a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds, on the most affordable model. It will seat seven, come with long-range and performance versions and be hitting the road in 2020.

Audi e-tron GT

Unveiled at the LA Auto Show 2018, the Audi e-tron GT Concept showcases Audi's future electric sportscar. This is a four-seater, powered by the same batteries as the e-tron models above (we suspect) and sharing a lot with the Porsche Taycan. Audi has been quite open about the co-development of the e-tron GT and the Taycan, and we're expecting a lot of technical similarities. Again, it featured on-screen in Avengers Endgame.

The performance stats currently suggest an 800V charging system, 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a range of 248 miles. There's a vegan interior on the Concept model, with Audi saying that it wants to push the eco message even further. The Audi e-tron GT Concept will be hitting the roads in 2020.

• Audi e-tron GT Concept: Specs, release date and everything you need to know

Audi e-tron SUV Sportback

With Audi's first EV on the road, the follow-up will be the e-tron SUV Sportback. It will be smaller than the Audi e-tron SUV but sit on the same platform as the current e-tron with the same battery. We suspect that most of the tech specs will be the same and it will be a change in exterior stylings, for a sleeker look. 

The official launch will take place at the LA Auto Show in November 2019.

• Audi e-tron SUV Sportback is an all-electric A7 on stilts

Rivian R1S

Rivian wants to join the EV movement with this offroader of its own. It's designed to tackle the great outdoors, boasting a wading depth of 3ft and a 0-60mph time of 3 seconds. Why you'd need to go so fast offroad, we'll never know.

Rivian is a newcomer to the EV space, showing off its cars for the first time at the LA Auto Show in 2018 - there's also a truck/pickup version - and is available for pre-order for a $1000 deposit. We'd be tempted to wait until these are actually on the road before parting with any money.

Audi Q4 Concept

The Q4 e-tron does two things. It previews a more "sporty", coupe body style version of the Q3 SUV (in the same way a Q8 relates to a Q7) and shows Audi's big push towards fully electric cars. It was previewed at Geneva 2019 but looks very much like the final thing. Expect a production version to follow, soon. 

Porsche Macan

Porsche has announced that the Macan is going to move to be pure electric - meaning that Porsche will have an electric SUV. It will join the luxury ranks of SUV EVs with a performance leaning, using the 800-volt system Porsche is using in the Taycan, and sitting on the PPE platform adapted from Audi. 

Not a lot else is being said at the moment, but the shifting of the Macan to electric shows real diversification of the Porsche portfolio. It is expected to go into production in 2020.  

BMW iX3 Electric

BMW recently took the wraps off its Concept iX3 all-electric SUV, with images revealing what we can expect the final production model to look like when it launches in 2020. The iX3 will get BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology, which puts the electric motor, transmission and power electronics all into one singular unit. 

It also gets a fifth-generation electric motor, specially designed for BMW's Sports Activity Vehicles, which produces 270hp and up to 249 miles on a single charge based on the WLTP cycle. BMW has also said it will support 150kW fast charging, meaning the battery can be fully topped up in just 30 minutes. 

The iX3 is a clear sign of BMW reacting to an ever-expanding market, but it's odd that it's taking the company so long to get the must-have SUV-body style with an electric powertrain to market, given that the i3 has been on sale since 2013.

• BMW reveals Concept iX3 all-electric SUV, will go on sale in 2020

BMW iNext Concept

BMW is adamant that the iNext will be launching in 2021. The iNext is concept car in looks - we're not sure the proposed open passenger cabin is realistic - but very serious in terms of technology. The level 3 and beyond the autonomous driving system that this car claims to offer is in development, while the battery technology is too. 

Whether we get a car that looks like this remains to be seen - it would sit somewhere between the X7 and X7 in terms of size - but you can expect the iNext Concept to evolve into a car. As BMW says, the technology for autonomous driving will be reading in 2021, regardless of whether the legislation is.

• BMW Vision iNext showcases BMW's 2021 autonomous electric SUV

BMW i4

BMW confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show 2018 that it will introduce an i4 in the early part of the next decade and with the BMW Concept 4 shown at IAA 2019, there was confirmation that the BMW i4 would be launching in 2021 and that there would be a range of power options to cover a wide range of customer demands.

BMW i5

BMW unveiled the i Vision Dynamics concept coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017. It previews a mid-sized saloon car, in the BMW i range that's likely to be called i5 when it launches in 2021. It's bigger than the company's 3-Series saloon, but smaller than a 5-Series and designed to sit between the i3 and i8 in the electric BMW i range.

The family-sized car will be capable of reaching 60mph in under 4 seconds, go on to speed over 120mph and be able to last up to 372 miles on a single charge. Let's hope it arrives with the same futuristic design displayed on the concept version. 

Faraday Future FF-91

A huge question mark hangs over the striking FF-91. It should have been launched in 2018 - after all, this car debuted at CES in early 2017 and the company opened order books for those wishing to place a deposit. But since then, Faraday has been threatened with bankruptcy, shed plenty of its workforce and work has stopped at its factory. Still, we hope the company makes it.

The FF-91 has a huge 126-inch wheelbase, but that makes for a huge interior. The panoramic sunroof, rear, and side windows use Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Glass, which passengers can tap on to tint the windows and let less light in. Don't expect to get a conventional rear-view mirror inside, as Faraday Future has replaced it with a widescreen monitor instead. It's used to show live footage from a camera on the rear of the car, along with cameras on the sides, so you can see everything around you.

Another thing to be thrown out is key. Instead, you use your phone to unlock the car, or if you don't have it with you, your face becomes your key. The FF-91 can individually recognise each user and will automatically adjust the seat position, climate control, entertainment preferences and driving routes based on your tastes.

The 1,050bhp electric power unit will accelerate to 60mph in 2.39-seconds and will have a driving range between 378 and 435 miles. Faraday Future says the battery can be completely recharged in 1 hour.

• Faraday Future's first production car, FF-91 hits the road in 2018

Fisker EMotion

The Fisker EMotion is an electric car designed by Henrik Fisker - the man responsible for designing the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 to name a few - and is due to be released on August 2017. It will be Fisker's rival to a Tesla Model S, not just in power, but in price too. 

New proprietary battery technology developed at the Fisker Nanotech battery division will give the EMotion a 400+ mile range, and it will eventually support autonomous driving modes thanks to radar and camera integrated in the front of the car. 

Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo

Porsche unveiled its second all-electric car - behind the Taycan - at the Geneva Motor Show 2018. Called the Mission E Cross Turismo, it's a four-seater sports car with the Tesla Model S set firmly in its sights. It can't quite match the Model S's Ludicrous Mode 0-60mph of 2.9 seconds, but at 3.5-seconds, the Porsche won't be left far behind in a drag race.

The Cross Turismo will be a combination of the Taycan (formerly the Mission E) and the Panamera, with higher ride height and tougher wheel arch surrounds.

One of the Mission E Cross Turismo's biggest selling points though is its recharge time. Porsche says you will be able to get 62 miles out of the Mission E Cross Turismo, from just a 4-minute charge, faster than boiling a pot of spaghetti. The total range from a full battery is expected to match the Taycan's 310 miles.

• Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo concept is an all-electric Porsche estate 

Rimac C_Two

Rimac, the Croatian hypercar manufacturer, has announced a follow-up model the Concept One - which Richard Hammond famously crashed - and it looks set to be one of the fastest cars on the planet. It has a claimed 0-60mph time of 1.85-seconds, which makes it faster than the Tesla Roadster and a range of 404 miles on a single charge.

Rimac says the 1888bhp car will go on to a top speed of 258mph and can recharge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. It will go into production later this year and will be limited to a 150 car run.

Skoda Vision E

Skoda has an electric SUV of its own in the works. Called the Vision E for now, the concept car is to be one of five new electric cars from Skoda to be on the roads by 2025.

It's based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID Cross and the Audi e-tron Sportback. It's therefore likely to have a 310-mile driving range and a top speed of 112mph. Skoda hasn't revealed a 0-60mph time just yet, but it will have a 302bhp power unit, with all of those horses being available on demand.

Two motors, one on each axle, work in unison to deliver power where it's needed to provide maximum grip and stability. Clever tech features include being able to automatically find itself a parking space and park, and drive-by itself in traffic jams or on motorways.

Skoda suggests that, when the Vision E arrives in the early 2020s, you won't need to plug it in, as there'll be inductive charging floor panel that can be fitted in your garage, but if you don't have space to put in the floor panel, a quick charge plug-in cable will get it back up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

A digital screen will replace the analogue instrument cluster, and a larger touchscreen will be fitted to the centre console to handle all things infotainment. You'll also be able to wirelessly charge your phone with a charger in each door.

Volkswagen ID Buzz and Cargo Concept

The ID Buzz is the third VW ID electric vehicle due to go on sale in 2022. It references VW's historic Microbus and will able to seat up to eight people, with an interior that can be constantly changed around. There's also a Cargo Concept, which may well get launched before any passenger model arrives, with the rising demand for clean first and last mile transport.

Two electric motors will give the ID Buzz a total power output of 369bhp to propel it to 60mph in around 5-seconds. It will be limited to a top speed of 100mph, will have four-wheel drive and a 372-mile driving range. You will be able to recharge the battery to 80 per cent, which VW says will be enough for 298 miles of travel, in 30 minutes. 

Like the other two ID vehicles, the Buzz will have a retracting steering wheel to enable an autonomous driving mode, and it will have cameras mounted on the outside in place of conventional wing mirrors. 

There's no official word on how much the ID Buzz may cost when it goes on sale.

• VW revives the iconic camper van design with I.D. Buzz, goes on sale in 2022

Knowing what your children are doing online can be a real challenge. Kids use an array of technology today and their digital wellbeing is more important than ever.

Parental control apps enable you to not only control access to your child's phone but also make sure they aren't spending too much time on specific apps or games.

We've rounded up a number of different parental control apps that let you see a range of things like keeping an eye on how much time your children are spending online.

Qustodio

For iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, Mac, Android devices, Kindle, from free

Qustodio easily wins out easily for sheer versatility - it works for smartphones, tablets, computers and even Amazon Kindle devices. It's very flexible with plenty of features. Once you've downloaded the Qustodio app to your child's device you can see what your child is doing, what sites they are visiting and what apps they're using. You can set usage limits and set up filters to block inappropriate content - even if the user has set their web browser to private mode. One of the big advantages is that Qustodio can be used interchangeably on multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Kindle devices. That means if you have an iPhone and your kid uses an Android phone, you can still monitor the child. That's not possible with Apple’s Screen Time, for example, while Android’s Family Time only works Android to Android. On Android phones, Qustodio also enables you to see your child's texts and who's calling them and track your child's location. A premium subscription, which costs just £3 a month, brings more benefits, including time limits for individual apps or games.

Apple Screen Time

For iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, free

Apple introduced Screen Time in 2018 and it's a great way of seeing exactly how much time is spent on apps, websites and more. It's easy to set up: choose Screen Time from Settings, turn it on and choose "This is My Child's iPhone", for instance. Then you can create settings on the child's phone or, if you have Family Sharing set up, from your Apple device. Settings include Downtime, which means during set times the phone can only be used for phone calls and approved apps. There are App Limits so you can ensure categories of apps, such as Productivity, are accessible while Games are not. Apple sends you regular reports of screen usage. Oh, and it's just as useful for adults, too.

Parental Control - Screen Time & Location Tracker

For Android devices, from free

This is one of the key time trackers for Android phones and enables parents to monitor and manage the time spent on devices. Parents can see what apps are being used and for how long, plus receive a notification if a child tries to install a new app on their phone, for instance. It also means parents can see exactly what websites are visited. A Premium version is also available which goes further, setting daily time limits on selected apps, as well as the facility to instantly press pause on a child's device. There's also GPS location tracking so you can know where your children are. It can be controlled via any browser and the app itself runs in the background.

Kids Place - Parental Control & Child Lock

For Android devices, from free

This is a great app for when kids ask to borrow your phone. You set up a pin when you first log into Kids Place that is then needed for anybody else to exit the app, but once logged in, it will protect your personal data and restrict your children to only use apps approved by you. Kids Place will also make sure your kids can't do anything on your device that will cost you money, such as making phone calls, texting or downloading new apps. In addition, you can block incoming calls when this app is running and disable all wireless signals, as well as have multiple user profiles. It can be used on the child's phone as well and a Premium option is available.

AppLock

For Android devices, from free

The title tells you what this app does: any app you choose can be locked on your phone. AppLock has over 100 million users and supports 24 languages. It allows you to lock SMS, contacts, Gmail, Facebook and so on to protect your privacy. You will be able to control photo and video access, meaning you can set selected pictures and videos to magically disappear from your photo gallery so only you can access them, by using a code. AppLock also enables you to lock your settings and Google Play so you won't have to worry about your children accessing new apps or changing your settings. Oh, and they can't even peep while you're putting in your code thanks to a random keyboard that rearranges numbers each time.

Conclusion

There are plenty of options for you to keep an eye on your children and how they use their smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even kindle when you're not around. While Google's Family Time and Apple's Screen Time do offer basic controls, they are restricted by requiring all members of the family to be on the same operating system.

Qustodio, however, offers a range of features like location tracking, but more importantly, works on multiple devices across multiple operating systems. This platform-agnostic approach means it's certainly worth checking out.

The Apple Watch is a complex device but it offers plenty to Apple iPhone users happy and keen to explore all its features. For the most part, you should be able to work out the basics of your new Apple Watch, but Apple has included plenty of hidden gems to allow you to get even more out of it than you thought possible.

How do you turn on Power Reserve? How do you clear all your messages in one go? How do you take a screenshot on the Apple Watch? Here are our tips and tricks full of shortcuts, quick options and much more, all waiting to be discovered and utilised to help you become an Apple Watch power user. 

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Apple Watch General tips and tricks

How to mute or silence an Apple Watch

Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch and tap on the bell icon. This will turn your Apple Watch into silent mode.

How to unpair an Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Head to the My Watch tab > Tap on the information symbol next to your Apple Watch at the top > Select Unpair Apple Watch.

How to pair and setup an Apple Watch with iPhone 

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Follow the instructions. It's nice and easy, we promise. You'll be guided through everything, from Hey Siri to adding cards for Apple Pay. Apple Watch only works with iPhone so if you're an Android user, you won't be able to pair an Apple Watch to your device.

How to factory reset an Apple Watch

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch > General > Scroll down to 'Reset'> Erase All Content and Settings.

How to update an Apple Watch

To check you're running the latest watchOS software, open the Settings app on your Apple Watch > General > Software Update. If there is a software update, make sure your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi and on it's charger and press the 'Download and Install' button.

How to change or remove an Apple Watch band

Take your Apple Watch off and turn it over. You'll see two buttons at the top and bottom of the heart rate sensor on the underside of the case. Push each button in and slide the respective strap out. You can then slide another strap in and it will click into place.

How to turn off an Apple Watch 

Press and hold the side button below the Digital Crown and then slide the Power Off option from left to right on the menu. You can also opt to go into Power Reserve mode or Lock your device.

How to turn on an Apple Watch 

Press and hold the side button below the Digital Crown to turn your Apple Watch back on.

How to turn on Power Reserve mode on an Apple Watch

Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch clock face and tap the battery percentage. You can then swipe left to right on the Power Reserve tab to turn it on.

How to turn off Power Reserve mode on an Apple Watch

Press and hold the side button below the Digital Crown until the Apple logo appears to turn Power Reserve off.

How to taking a screenshot on Apple Watch

To snap a photo of whatever is on your Apple Watch screen, press both the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time.

The photo will be automatically saved to your Photos album on your iPhone. You will need to make sure 'Enabling Screenshots' is on however. To do this, head to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > General > Scroll down to Enable Screenshot and ensure it is on.

How to hard reset your Apple Watch

Press the Digital Crown and second button for around 10 seconds until the Apple logo reappears.

How to manage third party Complications 

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone and select 'Complications' in the My Watch tab. You'll see what third party apps you have installed that will allow Complications. These Complications will then be able to be selected on various watch faces.

How to make the screen cut out time longer

Go to the Watch app on your iPhone, hit the My Watch tab and then 'General'. Scroll down to 'Wake Screen' and set the 'On Tap' setting to "Wake for 70 seconds". 

How to disabling Bedside Mode

It's possible to make your Apple Watch change to Nightstand mode when connected to the charger on its side. This will display the time, like an alarm clock might for example.

If you want disable this feature, go to the Watch app on your iPhone > My Watch Tab > General > Bedside Mode. You can also enable and disable Bedside Mode from the Settings app on the Watch. 

How to quickly go to the last app on Apple Watch

Double click on the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to go to the last app you were using.

How to access Siri on Apple Watch

Either say "Hey Siri" or long press on the Digital Crown to activate Siri on the Apple Watch.

How to mute an incoming call

To mute an incoming call, just cover Apple Watch with your hand.

How to get back to watch face

Don't worry about pressing the Digital Crown to keep going back before you eventually get back to the main watch face. Instead, simply place your hand over your Apple Watch face and it will go black. Tap on the screen and you'll be returned to the watch face straight away.

How to unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone

You can setup Apple Watch to automatically unlock when you're wearing it and you unlock your iPhone.

Go to the Apple Watch app on iPhone > My Watch tab > Passcode > Unlock with iPhone.

How to find your lost iPhone using your Apple Watch

Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch clock face. Tap on the iPhone symbol and if your iPhone is on, it will send out an audible ping to help you locate it.

How to find your Apple Watch using your iPhone

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on the My Watch tav > Click on your Watch at the top of the display > Tap on the information symbol on the right of your Watch information > Tap on the Find My Apple Watch option. This will launch the Find My app. 

You can then opt to Play Sound, Erase your Apple Watch or Mark As Lost.

How to turn on Airplane mode on your Apple Watch

You can pair your Watch and your iPhone to go into Airplane mode together, or you can turn Airplane Mode on manually from your Apple Watch.

Make sure the Airplane Mode Mirror iPhone feature is turned on in the Apple Watch app. From the Apple Watch app on iPhone, head to the My Watch Tab > General > Airplane Mode > Toggle on Mirror iPhone.

Alternatively, swipe up from the bottom of your Watch face and tap the plane on or off.

How to turn Do Not Disturb on or off on your Apple Watch

Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch clock face and hit the moon. This will switch do not disturb on or off. You can choose between On, On for 1 Hour, On Until This Evening or On Until I Leave.

How to reorder or delete quick settings on your Apple Watch

If you want the torch symbol more accessible, or airplane mode, for example, you can rearrange Quick Settings on your Apple Watch so you can access what you use most faster.

Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch clock face and scroll to the bottom. Tap 'Edit'. The icons will jiggle so you can move them into the positions that best suit what you want. Make sure you hit 'Done' at the bottom afterwards.

How to change your Apple Watch to left-handed orientation

You can change the orientation of the Apple Watch by setting whether you will be using it on your left or right wrist. Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on the My Watch tab > General > Watch Orientation > Change from left to right or vice versa. You can also select the side of the Digital Crown.

Accessibility changes

You can change a number of accessibility features on the Apple Watch, such as how it reacts to your input. Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on the My Watch tab > Accessibility. You'll be able to run on Bold Text and Zoom in these settings, for example.

How to enable Handoff for your Apple Watch

If you are doing something on your Apple Watch that you then want to carry on doing on your iPhone, you can enable Apple's Handoff feature so you can carry on as you were.

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Select the My Watch Tab > General > Toggle on Enable Handoff.

How to change the app layout on Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone > Tap on the My Watch tab > App Layout > Start moving the circles around to suit your preferences.

How to delete an app from Apple Watch

Go to the app screen on your Watch by pressing the Digital Crown > Long press on the display until the icons start to jiggle. Any apps that have a 'x' in the top right corner can be deleted. You can also move the apps around in the same way you do on your iPhone using this tip.

How to add apps to Apple Watch

It's even easier to add apps to Apple Watch than it was previously as the Apple Watch has it's own App Store in watchOS 6. Press the Digital Crown to take you to the Apps screen and then look for the App Store symbol. 

You'll then be able to search or scroll through the various recommended apps for Apple Watch. Tap on an app you want to download and press 'Get' to add it to your Apple Watch.

You can also find and download new apps for your Apple Watch on your iPhone. Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > tap on the App Store tab in the bottom right > press Discover Watch Apps on iPhone > Find an app you like and press 'Get'.

How to pair Bluetooth headphones to an Apple Watch

On the Apple Watch, open the Settings app and then Bluetooth. You can pair your headphones directly to your Apple Watch from here.

Increase vibration with Prominent Haptic

Sometimes a haptic (buzz) from a notification isn't enough to alert you, especially if you are wearing your Apple Watch strap loosely.

To help combat that, you can turn on something called 'Prominent Haptic' that when on Apple Watch will play a prominent haptic to pre-announce some common alerts. To turn this on go to the Settings app on the Apple Watch > Sounds & Haptics < Scroll to the Haptics section > Tap on Prominent.

How to turn on a six-digit passcode

As default, the Apple Watch comes with a four-digit passcode, however you can increase this level of security to a six-digit passcode.

To do that, go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Passcode > De-toggle Simple Passcode > Type in your new six-digit code. 

How to connect your Apple Watch to Wi-Fi

During setup, you will need to connect your Apple Watch to Wi-Fi but if you change Wi-Fi systems or you need to connect to a different network, it's nice and simple. 

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch > Scroll down to Wi-Fi > Choose the network you want to join > Enter the password.

How to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch

If you have a Mac and an Apple Watch, you can set it so your Apple Watch will unlock your MacBook without you having to type in your password.

Open the System Preferences on your Mac > Security & Privacy > Tick the 'Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and Mac' box > Type in your Mac password to enable.

How to add a payment card to your Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on Wallet & Apple Pay > Add Card. You'll need to follow the steps to add your payment card.

How to choose your default payment card on Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on Wallet & Apple Pay > Default Card > Choose the card you want to have as the main card. Don't worry, you can switch between cards easily so it doesn't matter too much.

Set an Express Travel Card

If you set an Express Travel Card, you won't need to double tap the button to launch Apple Pay on your Apple Watch when travelling on public transport. Once an Express Travel Card is setup, you'll be able to just hold your watch against a public transport travel terminal to pay for your journey. 

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on Wallet & Apple Pay > Select Express Travel Card > Choose the card you want to work automatically when travelling without you needing to double click the side button.

How to use your Apple Watch to confirm payments on Mac

You can use Apple Pya on your Apple Watch to confirm payments on a nearby Mac. To do this, open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Tap on Wallet & Apple Pay > Toggle on Allow Payments on Mac.

How to find a Medical ID on Apple Watch

Push and hold the side button under the Digital Crown on Apple Watch and slide the Medical ID option to view Medical ID.

How to set your noise threshold on Apple Watch

You can choose to be notified by your Apple Watch if you are in an environment where the sound levels could be damaging to your hearing. 

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Noise > Noise Threshold > Choose your threshold.

How to check the noise levels on your Apple Watch

Open the Noise app on Apple Watch and you'll see be able to see what decibels the environment you are in is at.

How to start a voice recording from your Apple Watch

Open the Voice Memo app on your Apple Watch and tap the big red button. This will start a voice recording which will be saved to your iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Apple Watch Messages tips and tricks

How to read messages on Apple Watch

When you get a message, raise your wrist to see who your message is from and to read the full message. Lower your arm to dismiss it.

Respond with a preset message on Apple Watch

When a message comes in on your Apple Watch, scroll down to the bottom and you can send a preset message in response.

Respond with words

You can opt to dictate your message to be turned into words via Siri or send as an audio file within the text. It's also possible to use your finger to type and it will turn it into text.

Respond with Emoji, Animoji or Memoji

Apple also lets you respond with a number of different emoji exclusive to the Apple Watch, as well as standard emoji, Animoji and Memoji stickers. To see beyond your most recently used emoji scroll down with your finger or the Digital Crown and you'll find other emojis as well as Memoji and Animoji. 

How to send a new message on Apple Watch

Force Touch in the Messages inbox on your Apple Watch to compose a new message. 

Mirror your iPhone for Messages on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Messages > Tick Mirror my iPhone. Your Apple Watch will now alert you in the same way your iPhone is set up for new messages.

Only repeat alerts once

If you don't want your Apple Watch buzzing all the time, you can set it so your watch only alerts you of a new text message once rather than twice. Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Messages > Select Custom. Alternatively you can have the watch remind you of a single message up to 10 times.

Turn off sound for message alerts on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Messages > Select Custom > Toggle Sound off.

Send Read Receipts from Apple Watch

You can set the Apple Watch to automatically send read receipts when you have read a message. Go to the Apple Watch App for iPhone > Messages > Toggle Send Read Receipts on or off depending on your preference.

Changing Default Replies on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Messages > Default Replies. You can change the default replies you send when the Apple Watch isn't trying to guess what to say by tapping Edit at the top right. Or you can turn Smart Replies on or off.

It's also possible to add a reply that you might want to send frequently if you scroll to the bottom. Swiping right to left on a default reply will allow you to delete it.

How to sending your current location in a message on Apple Watch

You can send your current location to anyone you're messaging via the Apple Watch. Force tap on an iMessage and then opt to Send Location.

Apple Watch Mail tips and tricks

Delete email from your Apple Watch

You can quickly delete an email from your inbox list by swiping right to left on the message on your Apple Watch.

Flag an email on Apple Watch

You can flag your emails by swiping left slowly on the message on Apple Watch. Within the email itself, a Force Touch will also bring up a number of options including flagging.

Marking an email as unread from your Apple Watch

You can mark an email as unread from your Apple Watch by either swiping left to right on the message in your inbox or Force Touch the email when you're in it. A grid of options will appear, one of which is to mark it as unread.

Mirror your iPhone for Mail on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Mail > Tick Mirror my iPhone. Your Apple Watch will now alert you in the same way your iPhone is set up when you get new emails.

Customise what email alerts you get on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Mail > Custom. Here you can select how each of your different email accounts are handled and whether you want alerts at all.

Emails only from VIPs on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Mail > Custom > Tick VIPs. Now you will only get alerts on your Apple Watch when your VIPs email you.

Change message preview size on Apple Watch

You can have none, one, or two lines of preview for your email messages on Apple Watch. To select the one for you go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Mail > Message Preview.

How to change your email signature on Apple Watch

By default, any email you send from your Apple Watch will say "Sent from my Apple Watch". To change your signature, open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Select Mail > Custom > Signature > Type what you want your new Signature to be.

Don't delete emails by mistake on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Mail > Custom. Scroll down and toggle on 'Ask Before Deleting'.

How to reply to emails on Apple Watch

You can reply to emails, flag them, mark them as unread or delete them on Apple Watch. To do so, Force Touch on the screen on the email you are reading and chose from the four options. Scrolling down to the bottom of an email will also give you the option to reply.

• Choosing a new Apple Watch strap

Apple Watch Activity tips and tricks

Change your goals on Apple Watch

Force Touch in the Activity app on Apple Watch to change your daily move goal.

See more activity data on Apple Watch 

Swipe up from the three ring summary on Apple Watch view to see more information, including active calories, steps, distance and flights climbed.

Turn off Stand reminders on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Activity > Toggle Stand Reminders off. Follow the same instructions to turn Stand Reminders back on.

Turn off activity progress updates on Apple Watch

If you aren't fussed about getting updates throughout the day about how active you're being then you can change when the Apple Watch notifies you about it.

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Activity > Daily Coaching.

Turn off all Activity alerts on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Activity > Toggle off all the alerts you don't want.

Turn off activity tracking altogether on Apple Watch 

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Privacy. There are two options: Fitness Tracking and Heart Rate. You can turn either on or off, or both to stop the heart rate sensor calculating your calories burned and the watch using your body movements to determine your step count and fitness level. 

Apple Watch Workout tips and tricks

How to pause or end a workout quickly on Apple Watch

Swipe left to right during a workout on your Apple Watch to end or pause a workout. You can then choose to save or discard it. 

Change the metrics shown during a workout on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Workout > Workout View. You can set your preferences for the different workouts. 

How to enable Power saving mode in Workout on Apple Watch

If you want to save power during a workout, you can turn off the heart rate monitor. Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Workout > Toggle the Power Saving Mode option on.

Add segments when on an outdoor run on Apple Watch

It's possible to add a segment when on an outdoor run with Apple Watch by just double tapping the display. A segment will feature time, distance and average pace. 

Turn on Running Auto Pause on Apple Watch

You can toggle on a setting called Running Auto Pause on Apple Watch that will pause running workouts when you stop moving and resume them when you start again.

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Workout > Toggle on Running Auto Pause.

Select a playlist to automatically play when you start a Workout on Apple Watch

You can choose a playlist to start playing automatically every time you start a Workout on Apple Watch, though it won't play if you are already listening to music or other audio.

To turn this feature on, head to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Workout > Scroll down to Workout Playlist > Select your Playlist. You'll need to have downloaded the playlist from Apple Music.

Apple Watch Music tips and tricks

How to see album art on Apple Watch

Tap on the three dots in the bottom corner of the Now Playing screen in the Apple Music app and scroll down to View Album.

How to shuffle a playlist or album on Apple Watch

Tap on the middle icon at the bottom of the Now Playing screen on the Apple Music app on Apple Watch and hit the shuffle button on the next screen.

Jump alphabetically in track or album listings on Apple Watch

Scroll faster with the Digital Crown until a letter appears when in the Apple Music app on Apple Watch. It will then jump through your songs via the alphabet.

Turn up the volume with Digital Crown on Apple Watch

When you are viewing music in the Apple Music app on Apple Watch, use the Digital Crown to turn the volume up or down.

How to add music to your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch has the ability to store songs so you can listen without your iPhone nearby - great for a run. To sync a playlist go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Music > Select Add Music and then select the playlist or album you want to sync. Songs sync when Apple Watch is on its charger.

Apple Watch Calendar tips and tricks

Switch between list and day view on Apple Watch 

Force Touch when in the calendar app on Apple Watch and select either day view or list view.

Get directions to an event on Apple Watch from Calendar

Force Touch on a calendar entry on the Apple Watch and select get directions. These will then open up in Maps, taking you through step by step with vibrations on your wrist. The calendar entry will need to have the location of the event in for this to work though.

Back to today on Apple Watch

If you've scrolled down through your appointments on your Apple Watch, you can get back to today by using Force Touch and then selecting Today.

Watch faces tips and tricks

How to change your watch face on Apple Watch

Force Touch on the watch face screen on your Apple Watch and then scroll left or right to reveal more.

How to customise your watch face on Apple Watch

Force Touch on the watch face screen on your Apple Watch and then press 'Customise'.

Scroll left and right to reveal different elements, like colour, which can be changed. Use the Digital Crown to scroll through colour or different Complications.

Tap on each Complication to change what's in them. Not all features are available on all watches.

Deleting clock faces on Apple Watch

Swipe up when in the watch face selection mode on Apple Watch to delete the face. Don't worry you haven't deleted it forever.

Having more than one design of the same watch face on Apple Watch

In the watch face selection mode on Apple Watch, scroll all the way to the right and select new. Use the Digital Crown to scroll through available options.

Setting 24-hour time on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone and scroll down the menu and tap Clock. Toggle whether you want your watch to show 24-hour time or not.

Push Alerts from your iPhone on your Apple Watch

When Push Alerts is on, your Apple Watch will alert you of Timers and Alarms you've set on your iPhone so you can snooze or dismiss them remotely.

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Clock > Toggle Push Alerts on or off.

Turn off the red notifications indicator on Apple Watch

When the notifications indicator is on, a red dot will appear at the top of your Apple Watch face when you have unread notifications.

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Clock > Turn the Notifications Indicator on or off.

Choosing your monogram details on your Apple Watch

Some of the Apple Watch watch faces - Infograph and Colour for example - allow you to show your monogram on the face.

The Apple Watch app for iPhone allows you to customise what initials are shown (up to 5).

To change it go to the Apple Watch app on iPhone > Clock > Monogram.

Change City names or add airport abbreviations

By default, Apple lists the city time zones around the world you've got stored in your phone, but if you associate more with San Fran or Seattle than you do with Los Angeles then you might want to change the name.

Go to the app on your iPhone > Clock > City Abbreviations.

Set the time ahead on Apple Watch

Some people like to have their watch always set a couple of minutes fast.

On your Apple Watch go to Settings > Clock > +0 min. Use the Digital Crown to change the time up to an hour ahead in one minute increments.

Setting a photo watch face on Apple Watch

To set a specific photo as a watch face on Apple Watch, find a photo in Photos on your iPhone. You'll then need to tap on the share icon in the bottom left corner and scroll down to Create Watch Face.

Apple Watch Phone tips and tricks

Stop your Apple Watch ringing when your phone rings

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Phone > Custom> Opt to have the Watch show notifications, sounds, or whether it should buzz.

Call someone from your Apple Watch

Go to the Phone app on your Apple Watch and then select someone from your Favourites, Recents, or Contacts.

Making a call on your Apple Watch

Press the Digital Crown to load Siri and then say "Call [insert name]" to make the call.

Apple Watch Photos tips and tricks

Deciding what photos to show on the Apple Watch

You can opt to have certain photos or albums synced to your Apple Watch even when you don't have your iPhone nearby.

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Photos > Synced Albums. You can then select which albums you want on your Apple Watch.

Selecting a photo on your Apple Watch

Use the Digital Crown to zoom in and out on the photos app on your Apple Watch and your fingers to move around.

Setting a photo watch face on Apple Watch

To set a specific photo as a watch face on your Apple Watch, find a photo in Photos and Force Touch on it to set as a Watch Face. 

Apple Watch Stocks tips and tricks

Change the Stock watch face complication on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Stocks > Select whether you want Current Price, Points Change, Percentage Change, or Market Cap.

Change default stock in Glances on Apple Watch

Go to the Stocks section of the Apple Watch app for iPhone and then select from a range of different stocks or simply have it mirror your iPhone.

Apple Watch Weather tips and tricks

Change the default city on Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Weather > Select which city you want to show on your watch faces or the Weather Glance.

See 10 day forecast on Apple Watch

Go to the Weather app on your Apple Watch and swipe up to see the next 10 days of weather for that city.

See if it is going to rain today and at what time

Force Touch on the Weather app on your Apple Watch to set the dial to show the conditions, chance of rain, or temperature throughout the day. Now you can see that it will rain at 5PM clearly.

Apple Watch Notifications tips and tricks

What does the red dot mean on Apple Watch?

If you see a red dot on your watch face, it means you have unread notifications. To get rid of the dot, open the Watch app on iPhone > Notifications > Toggle off Notifications Indicator.

How to clear all notifications on Apple Watch

Force Touch when you are on the notifications pane to Clear All notifications on your Apple Watch.

How to see past notifications on Apple Watch

Swipe down from the top of the screen on your Apple Watch and all your uncleared notifications will appear.

Don't show the message on Apple Watch, just the alert

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Notifications > Select Notification Privacy.

Now when you get a message you'll know its from a specific app but you have to tap to see what it says. Handy if you don't want others reading your notifications.

How to cut down notifications on Apple Watch

Go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Notifications > Select whether you want Apple and third party apps to send you notifications or not. 

Samsung's Galaxy S11 and S11+ are expected to launch in the first quarter of 2020, likely around mid to late February.

This feature rounds up all the leaks, rumours and speculation surrounding the next Galaxy S flagships, as well as what we want to see.

Here's everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy S11 and S11+.

Samsung Galaxy S11 release date and price

• Mid-Feb announcement likely
• Early March release likely
• Prices from at least £799 expected

Typically, Samsung announces its Galaxy S range before Mobile World Congress, which takes place at the end of February in Barcelona. This therefore means the Galaxy S devices are traditionally revealed sometime in mid February, at least they have been for the last few years.

It's likely the Galaxy S11 and S11+ will follow suit, though nothing is known for certain as yet. If Samsung does follow its recent release pattern, the Galaxy S11 and S11+ are expected to be available to buy from early March.

In terms of prices, the Galaxy S10 started at £799 and the Galaxy S10+ started at £899, with a smaller and cheaper device appearing in the form of the Galaxy S10e, available from £669.

We don't expect the Galaxy S11 and S11+ to be any cheaper than their predecessors. If anything, we'd expect a price increase as was the case between the S10 and S9.

Samsung Galaxy S11 specs: What we want

• Camera improvements
• Adaptable 90Hz display
• Faster wired charging
• Bigger battery capacities
• 5G capabilities on standard models
• More exciting finishes
• Smaller punch-hole front camera 

Samsung Galaxy S11 rumours: What's happened so far?

Here are all the rumours and leaks surrounding the Galaxy S11 so far.

31 October 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11 could come with Face ID-like facial recognition feature

Some references appeared in the Android 10 beta for the Samsung Galaxy S10 suggesting Samsung is working on a 3D facial recognition feature like Apple's Face ID and Google's Face Unlock.

Picasso - the codename for the S11 - was mentioned in the beta too with the face recognition feature suggesting we could see it on the next Galaxy S flagships.

7 October 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11 will have 5X optical zoom, 108-megapixel camera, report claims

According to Korean site The Elec, Samsung will soon start to test a 5X optical zoom camera, which is claimed to be destined for the Samsung Galaxy S11. SamMobile also claims that the camera on the Galaxy S11 will have a 108-megapixel sensor at its heart

26 September 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11 could have improved in-display fingerprint sensor

Korean news outlet, The Elec, has claimed industry sources have said the Samsung Galaxy S11 will have an improved in-display fingerprint sensor. According to the report, the Active Area Dimension (AAD) that recognises when a user places their finger on the display will be much larger - double in fact.

24 September 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11e could have a dual display, patent suggests

Samsung filed a patent for a dual display device, which some have speculated could be destined for the Galaxy S11e because of the dual rear camera. LetsGoDigital made some 3D renders of the patent, helping us to visualise what the patent could materialise to.

13 September 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11 could come in Note 10's beautiful Aura Glow colour option

SamMobile has reported that the Samsung Galaxy S11 devices will come in Blue, Pink, White and Black colour options and Samsung will adopt the "Aura" name in front, meaning the devices could come in the Galaxy Note 10's Aura Glow colour.

The site also said the models will come with a top storage model of 1TB and a base storage option of 128GB.

29 July 2019: Samsung Galaxy S11 will have a smaller punch-hole camera than Note 10

Leaker Ice Universe tweeted a couple of details "confirmed' for the Samsung Galaxy S11. He claims the Galaxy S11 is codenamed Picasso, it will offer a substantial camera upgrade and the software will be based on Android Q One UI 2.x.

Ice Universe also said the punch hole camera on the front of the device will be smaller than the Galaxy Note 10.

18 July 2019: Samsung begins mass production of first 12GB LPDDR5 Mobile DRAM

Samsung announced it has begun mass production of the industry's first 12GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, said to have been optimised for enabling 5G and AI features in future smartphones.

It's certainly plausible to suggest the Galaxy S11 could be one of those future smartphones.

9 May 2019: Samsung launches 64MP and 48MP camera sensors

Samsung announced two new camera sensors - a 64-megapixel sensor and a 48-megapixel sensor. The two sensors saw Samsung expand its 0.8μm image sensor lineup from existing 20MP to 64MP resolutions.

Nothing has been detailed to suggest these sensors will appear on the Galaxy S11 but it would seem like a logical move, especially with competitors like Huawei offering higher resolutions on their rear cameras.

Motorola has confirmed it is launching a foldable phone and all the rumours point to the device being a redesigned version of its Razr flip phone, which launched way back in 2004.

This is everything we know about the Motorola Razr foldable phone so far.

Quick summary

• Release expected by end of 2019

The Motorola Razr foldable is expected to be released at some point in 2019. It looks like the device will be a redesign of the 2004 Motorola Razr flip phone but switch the numerical keyboard and top display for a full OLED display that folds in half.

A secondary display is expected on the outside of the device that will deliver notifications when the device is closed. This could be a trackpad for basic functions when the device is open.

Invites have gone out for an event on 13 November in Los Angeles. The Motorola Razr is highly expected to be revealed here though nothing is confirmed.

Motorola Razr foldable specs

These are the rumoured specifications for the Motorola Razr foldable phone so far.

• 6.2-inch internal OLED display
• 2142 x 876 resolution
• Secondary external display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 710
• 4GB or 6GB RAM
• 64GB or 128GB storage
• 2730mAh battery

What's happened?

Here is everything that has happened so far regarding Motorola's foldable phone.

31 October 2019: The upcoming Moto Razr with foldable display revealed in leaked image

An image has leaked of the upcoming Moto Razr, courtesy of serial leaker EvLeaks who posted the image on his private Twitter feed. As rumours predicted, the image shows a foldable screen within an updated flip phone shell with no physical numeric keypad like the 15-year old model, replaced with a screen instead.

18 October 2019: Motorola Razr folding phone could be revealed on 13 November

Motorola sent out invites for an event in Los Angeles on 13 November that promises the "highly anticipated unveiling of a reinvented icon". It's thought the company will use the event to announce its foldable Razr phone.

The save the date invite features a GIF that shows a device being folded and unfolded, with the words "An Original Unlike Any Other" across the middle. Motorola also said "You're going to flip" with the invite. 

20 August 2019: New Moto RAZR coming to Europe too, December/January launch mooted

It's been reported that Motorola's folding RAZR smartphone is going to launch in Europe, and that it's expected to launch somewhere around December 2019 - January 2020 timeframe. 

According to this report, it's going to cost around €1500, which is considerably cheaper than the Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X. 

17 May 2019: Motorola shows off Razr foldable concept video

Motorola has shown off a video concept of its Moto Razr foldable handset. We've previously seen leaked images of the device, but this video came from Lenovo itself. 

The 30-second video shared on Weibo appears to have originated from a Moto fan, but Motorola's parent company Lenovo showed it off at a press event - likely because it shows off the phone in a good light and makes it look like a desirable device.

29 April 2019: This is Motorola's upcoming Razr foldable

Some images appeared on Weibo, republished by SlashLeaks showing what appears to be the Motorola Razr and its packaging. 

The renders show a flip phone but with a continuous display across both halves when unclasped.

13 March 2019: Specs might not be what you'd hoped for

XDA Developers have reported that sources have claimed the Motorola Razr foldable will feature mid-range specifications. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage have been reported.

The battery capacity is said to be 2730mAh and the internal display is claimed to be 6.2-inches with a 2142 x 876 pixel resolution. It is expected to come in white, black and gold variants.

8 March 2019: Motorola Razr dual-screen design confirmed

Sources told XDA Developers that the Motorola Razr will have a secondary external display but it won't offer a complete Android experience unless you open the phone. The second display might then act as a trackpad - a feature that is said to be in testing phase, offering simple functions like scrolling Google Chrome pages.

27 February 2019: Motorola says its foldable is coming

Motorola confirmed to Engadget that it is developing a foldable device and it will launch no later than everybody else in the market.

It also said it was testing an OLED device with a plastic film on top and that the device wouldn't feature a display on the outside like the Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X because the display "has a short life right away".

9 February 2019: Concept video appears online

Waqar Khan published a concept video of the Motorola Razr showing what the handset might look like from a range of angles.

25 January 2019: More Motorola Razr 2019 evidence emerges

Motorola is said to have hired Korean manufacturer Kolon Industries to make transparent, highly flexible polyimide films that will cover the display and protect it. It was claimed the display underneath the plastic film will be a bendable OLED panel.

21 January 2019: Motorola Razr patent appears online

A patent application was discovered by 91 Mobiles showing a device similar in design to the 2004 Motorola Razr flip phone but with a display that runs the entire length rather than featuring a top screen and numerical keyboard.

The patent was filed at the end of 2018. It also showed a second display on the rear, as well as a camera and fingerprint sensor.

16 January 2019: Razr next for retro revival as foldable phone

The Wall Street Journal reported that "people familiar with the matter" said Lenovo will partner with Verizon in the US for a new version of the Razr that will have a foldable display and cost $1500.

• Motorola devices through the years

Want an iPhone 11 Pro Max complete with its incredible triple camera? You've come to the right place. You can get the new iPhones now, as they're no longer on pre-order. 

Naturally, we'll also bring you the best iPhone 11 Pro Max tariffs right here. Remember the iPhone 11 series are 4G handsets, so these prices are for 4G deals not 5G. 

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max deals US

AT&T starts its plans for the Max with a $36.67 a month for the handset and $50 for 3GB of data. That's with a $30 one-time charge, totaling $126.67 initially - and $96.67 then onwards. 

The Sprint contracts begin with $45.84 for the Pro Max each month and 2GB is priced at $40, resulting in a figure of $85.84 - with a $5 monthly discount.

Verizon plans kick off with 2GB of data priced at $55 a month, and $45.83 for the 11 Pro Max. There's a one-off fee of $97.62, and the regular payment comes in at $100.83.

T-Mobile deals for the 11 Pro Max come in at $31.25 a month for the phone, and unlimited data, minutes and texts costs $65. There is also a $349.99 upfront charge, and it's $91.25 going forward.

Best Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max deals UK

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Vodafone 

• Our recommended deal on Vodafone comes with unlimited data, mins and texts for £64 a month, with a £158.99 upfront fee. There's no speed cap  via Fonehouse and it has a TCO of £1694.99). See the deals in Space Grey | Green | Silver | Gold

O2

• The leading offer on O2 has 120GB of data for £63 a month, with unlimited minutes and texts. That has a £129 upfront charge via Affordable Mobiles, with access to the Priority scheme for discounts and O2 Wi-Fi and a total cost of ownership of £1641. View the offers in Space Grey | Green | Silver | Gold

Three

• We've got access to a non-public deal Three deal with a 100GB data allowance for £65 a month, plus £79 upfront. It's on the Go Binge plan, with unlimited data for Apple Music, Snapchat, Netflix and more (TCO £1639). Check out the deals in Space Grey | Green | Silver | Gold

EE

• There's a good offer for the Pro Max on EE with 50GB of data priced at £61 a month, with £169 upfront. That's via Affordable Mobiles and has 25GB extra each month, along with unlimited minutes and texts (TCO £1633). View the deals in Space Grey | Green | Silver | Gold

Sky Mobile is offering the 11 Pro Max from £48 per month with 2GB of data, on a Swap 24 tariff. 

BT iPhone 11 Pro Max deals start from £73 per month and £100 upfront, or it's £79 for a massive 60GB of data a month (both with £5 off for existing customers) 

Virgin Mobile is offering the iPhone 11 Pro Max for £47 with 1GB data (36-months). Virgin is also offering AirPods for an incredible £1 extra per month on 36 month contracts. 

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max SIM free price

The iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 in the US and £1,149 in the UK for 64GB, $1,249/£1,299 for 256GB, and $1,449/£1,499 for 512GB. This will supersede the iPhone XS Max, which is also discontinued. 

You can see the latest deals for most of Apple's current handsets below, as well as what to do if you want to trade-in your current iPhone to get a new one. 

Search for the best Apple iPhone contract deals

Still searching? Not seen anything you like? Feel free to use the iPhone deal selector below, to find your ideal deal.  

Simply use the drop-down menus and sliders to find the ideal iPhone contract. Whether you want more data or unlimited minutes, there's sure to be a deal for you.

The best Apple iPhone upgrade deals

If you can upgrade today, Carphone Warehouse has specific upgrade-only deals that aren't available to new customers, or check out the network links below.

• EE upgrades
• O2 upgrades
• Vodafone upgrades
• Three upgrades

The best Apple iPhone deals everywhere

• Apple iPhone deals at Carphone Warehouse
• Apple iPhone deals from Mobiles.co.uk
• Apple iPhone deals from Affordable Mobiles
• Apple iPhone deals from Fonehouse
• Apple iPhone deals from Mobile Phones Direct
• Apple iPhone deals on EE
• Apple iPhone deals on O2
• Apple iPhone deals on Vodafone
• Apple iPhone deals on Three

WhatsApp said its app can now be locked with biometric security: Your fingerprint. Here's what you need to know and how it works.

What's new with WhatsApp?

You can now lock the WhatsApp mobile app with your fingerprint on Android, following a rollout of the feature to its iOS app earlier this year. It works just like it sounds: When the feature is enabled, you’ll need to use your fingerprint to unlock the app even after unlocking your phone.

Why is this a thing?

It’s an added level of security, to help ensure you're the only person who can access the WhatsApp app on your mobile device.

How to enable Fingerprint Lock

WhatsApp said you’ll be able to toggle on the feature from within the app’s Privacy settings menu. You'll see options to let the app stay unlocked for one or 30 minutes after you unlock it. There’s also an option that stops the contents of your messages from appearing in notifications.

WhatsApp for Android

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Account.
4. Tap Privacy.
5. Go to Fingerprint Lock.
6. Switch on Unlock with fingerprint, and then confirm your fingerprint.

WhatsApp for iOS

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Account.
4. Tap Privacy.
5. Go to Screen Lock.
6. Turn on Touch ID or Face ID.
7. You can then tap to select the amount of time before Touch ID or Face ID is prompted.

Where is Fingerprint Lock available?

The update to WhatsApp for Android that brings Fingerprint Lock isn't yet live in all regions, but it's rolling out. Earlier this year, WhatsApp rolled out support for Touch ID and Face ID, adding an extra layer of security for iPhone users.

Want to know more?

Check out WhatsApp's blog post and support hub.

Microsoft appears to be readying a set of new features for its Cortana assistant.

These new features, which will supposedly arrive sometime later this year, bring additional voice options including a male voice for the first time, according to a video posted by Twitter user @h0x0d. It's unclear where the video is from, but it could be leaked materials from Microsoft.

Leakster @h0x0d has a decent track record, and other sites seem to think the video is evidence the feature really is coming. The video specifically shows a “masculine” voice coming to the assistant.

But it doesn’t actually play any audio of how the new voice sounds:

Cortana in 2019 pic.twitter.com/5rlfshgjxX

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) October 31, 2019

Other than that, the video teases an integration with the Outlook app on iOS, including a new Play My Emails feature that will allow Cortana to summarise your new emails in a briefing, and you’ll be able to manage or flag your emails using just your voice. There are also new Cortana features for Windows, like a Briefing mode, which summarises your calendar and meetings.

Plus, there's new scheduling options for meetings.

We're not sure when Microsoft plans to release these new features for Cortana, but @h0x0d indicated they'll arrive in 2019.

We're getting close to the launch of the new Motorola Razr - now images have leaked of the upcoming handset.

We're expecting a full launch of the phone to take place in mid-November and for the handset to go on sale in December or January. Invites have gone out to an event on 13 November in Los Angeles. 

The new Razr will have a foldable screen within an updated flip phone shell. So no, there won't be a physical numeric keypad like the older models because it'll be all screen. The new leak has come courtesy of serial leaker evleaks who posted these images on his private Twitter feed. 

It'll very much reflect the look and feel of the classic model that debuted - wait for it - 15 years ago. However, we're not expecting it to be cheap - initial rumours have put the device well over $1,000. That's expensive even if it is cheaper than other foldables. 

Motorola's phone business (known as Motorola Mobility) has gone through a couple of ownership changes since then and it's now the US and Europe focused phone brand for Lenovo. Lenovo acquired the business from Google. 

• Motorola Razr foldable phone: Release date, specs, features and price

Apple is ready to take on the Netflix and Amazon Primes of this world with its own streaming service: Apple TV+.

For years, the Cupertino giant has been tinkering away on a video streaming service, with the goal of being able to showcase its own original TV shows, much like Netflix does with its Netflix Originals. And, from 1 November 2019, you'll be able to try it for yourself.

Here then is everything you need to know about TV+, including price, where to get it, the shows you can expect to see and much more.

What is Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ is Apple’s home for original films and series. Through the latest version of the Apple TV app, the company will offer a tonne of ad-free, exclusive content that was either green-lit by or produced in-house by Apple. To help ensure the success of its first foray into original content, it has partnered with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Steven Spielberg, Oprah, JJ Abrams, and even Big Bird.

Apple TV+ will require a monthly payment and is due to arrive after the new Apple TV app rolls out to several platforms. Apple said you'll be able to stream its Apple Originals, ad-free and on-demand, and that new originals will be added to Apple TV+ every month.

When will Apple TV+ be available?

Apple TV+ will be available from 1 November 2019.

Where will Apple TV+ be available?

Apple TV+ is available in over 100 countries at launch. It's safe to say the US and UK are both included.

How much does Apple TV+ cost?

It costs just £4.99/$4.99 per month for a family subscription.

To encourage signups, Apple is offering anyone who buys an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV one year of Apple TV+ for free. You can subscribe to and watch Apple TV+ at tv.apple.com on the web via the Safari, Chrome or Firefox browser.

How does one access Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ is available inside the Apple TV app. Apple has been universally updating the app since spring 2019 in preparation. And, for the first time, making it available on select smart TVs, as well as on Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices. This is critical because Apple TV was previously only available on Apple devices, like iPhone, iPad, and the Apple TV box.

By expanding the availability of the Apple TV app to more devices, the Apple TV+ service is available to almost anyone who wants to subscribe.

You can subscribe to Apple TV+ and watch it on:

• An iPhone or iPod touch with the latest version of iOS
• An iPad with the latest version of iPadOS
• An Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with the latest version of tvOS
• An Apple TV (3rd generation) with the latest Apple TV software update
• A smart TV or streaming box that supports the Apple TV app
• A Mac running the latest version of macOS
• The site tv.apple.com in a Safari, Firefox, or Chrome web browser

How do you sign up for Apple TV+?

Starting 1 November 2019, you can sign up in the Apple TV app or on tv.apple.com for a 7-day free trial that auto-renews once the trial is over.

Get one free year of Apple TV+:

Any new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, or Mac purchased after 10 September 2019 is eligible to activate a one-year free subscription.

1. Turn on your Apple device and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Open the Apple TV app. Make sure your device is running the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS.
3. Apple said the offer should be presented immediately after launching the app. If not, scroll down in Watch Now until the offer appears.
4. Tap "Enjoy 1 Year Free."
5. You might be asked to enter your Apple ID password, confirm your billing information, or add a valid payment method.

Which devices offer Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ is available on any device that supports the Apple TV app. The initial list includes Apple devices (such as the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac and Apple TV set-top-box), select smart TVs (from Sony, Samsung, LG, and Vizio), as well as Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.

On iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac, you can download episodes or films to watch offline. Your Apple TV+ also subscription includes access for up to six family members via Family Sharing. Each family member can watch with their own Apple ID on their own device. And one Apple TV+ subscription includes the option to watch six simultaneous streams.

Which formats does Apple TV+ support?

You can watch Apple Originals in 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and most titles also offer Dolby Atmos sound.

Apple Originals shows and films

Since its star-studded launch event in March 2019, the list of shows confirmed and rumoured to be coming to Apple TV+ has grown rapidly. Some are available at launch, others are a fair way off. Here's the list so far:

Amazing Stories

In the early 80s, Steven Spielberg was responsible for creating two seasons of an anthology show based on the Amazing Stories comics he grew up reading. While it only had a short run on the silver screen, it still managed to capture five Emmy awards during it’s two-years. A reboot is coming to Apple TV+, and Spielberg has previously referenced an episode about a WWII pilot traveling through time to modern-day.

Masters of the Air

Spielberg will also focus on World War II and the US Air Force with a nine-episode series announced for the platform. Masters of the Air is actually the third in his WWII trilogy that also includes the excellent Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Deadline reports that it is based on the Donald L. Miller book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany. Tom Hanks will join Spielberg as one of the executive producers.

The Morning Show

Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell are all on board for a series about what goes on behind the cameras of the various morning shows that millions of Americans wake up to every day.

Sesame Street

Big Bird was on hand at the Apple TV+ launch event in March to talk about the partnership between Apple and the Sesame Street workshop to produce new educational content for kids.

See

This series is an epic world-building drama set in some type of dystopian future. Jason Momoa stars in the role of Baba Voss, a warrior, leader, and guardian. So, someone is finally giving us the Khal Drogo spin-off we’ve been dying for since season one of Game of Thrones.

Little America

Kumail Nanjiani is responsible for a half-hour anthology series that delves into the stories of American immigrants and their unique experiences. The show focuses on small scale immigrant stories, with the hope of showing the true experiences of being an immigrant in modern-day America.

Truth Be Told

Apple ordered 10 episodes of this drama, based on the novel Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber. It explores how the reopening of a murder case affects the victim's daughter. It stars Octavia Spencer, known for Hidden Figures, and Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad.

Little Voices

Little Voices is developed by JJ Abrams and stars singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles. The show is a half-hour long dramedy about Bareilles' character struggling as a young singer trying to make it in New York City.

Oprah's Book Club

Oprah Winfrey is hosting an interview programme, themed around authors and their books, as part of an extended partnership with Apple. She is also working on two upcoming documentaries that is released on Apple TV+. The first is about sexual harassment and has a working title of Toxic Labor, while another is about mental health in collaboration with Prince Harry.

For All Mankind

Apple picked up this science fiction space saga developed by Ronald D Moore, best known for the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The show explores "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" and stars several actors, including Joel Kinnaman.

Home

Home is a docuseries that explores extraordinary homes in the world. It sounds like MTV's Cribs meets Architectural Digest. Apple has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of the Home docuseries, which is produced by Matt Tynauer and Corey Reese of Altimeter Films.

You Think It, I'll Say It Comedy

Apple ordered 10 episodes of ahalf-hour comedy show based on the You Think It, I'll Say It short story compilation by Curtis Sittenfeld, which "upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided."

It’s reportedly set to star Kristen Wiig.

Untitled drama series from Damien Chazelle

Apple picked up adrama series from La La Land creator Damien Chazelle. He will write and direct every episode of the series.

Swagger

Swagger is a drama series based on the life of NBA star and Golden State Warriors player Kevin Durant. Imagine Television, led by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, will produce it, alongside Kevin Durant's Thirty Five Media. Both Durant and Grazer will serve as executive producers.

Servant

Servant is a psychological thriller written by Tony Basgallop and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, who is best known for movies like Signs and Split. The first episode of the series has been directed by Shyamalan himself. Apple has ordered 10 episodes, and each one is a half-hour long.

Central Park

Central Park is an animated TV series developed by Loren Bouchard, well-known for the popular cartoon Bob's Burgers. It's a musical comedy about a family of caretakers who live in Central Park and end up saving both the park and the world. It stars Josh Gad, among others.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation

Apple isworking on a TV series adaptation of the popular sci-fi series Foundation written by sci-fi author Isaac Asimov. It's a sprawling epic that spans centuries, so it’ll be interesting to see how it’ll be adapted if it ever makes it to the streaming service.

Dickinson

Apple picked up a show about the life of famous American poet Emily Dickinson, set to beplayed by Hailee Steinfeld. It'll be a comedic look into Dickinson's world. Jane Krakowski, known for roles in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock, will also star as Emily's mother.

Shantaram

Apple is working on aTV adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' 2003 novel Shantaram, which focuses on a character named Lin, a convict that escapes an Australian prison. American Hustle screenwriter Eric Warren Singer will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

Hilde Lysiak

Appleordered 10 episodes of a drama series about Hilde Lysiak, a child journalist who publishes a newspaper in her hometown in Pennsylvania. She unearths a cold case that everyone else in the town had attempted to bury. Child actress Brooklyn Price will star in the show.

Calls

Apple orderedan English-language adaptation of French series Calls. It's a short-form series that tells stories based on snippets of audio taken from real-life situations. Many episodes fall into the horror and mystery sub-genres, and will likely use minimal visuals.

Pachinko

Applesecured the rights to create a TV show based on Min Jin Lee's novel Pachinko, which follows the lives of four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family in Japan staring in 1911. It is written and produced by Soo Hugh, who is best known for The Killing.

Snoopy in Space

Snoopy and the gang star in an all-new animated adventure that is available on Apple TV from launch.

Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day videogame comedy

Apple has ordered ahalf-hour scripted comedy show created by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, who is best known for popular comedy show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show is set in a video game development studio, and McElhenney is one of the show's stars.

The Elephant Queen

A feature-length movie, The Elephant Queen is an award-winning documentary that follows the journey of a family of elephants and is narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Lion King).

Losing Earth Climate Change Project

Applepurchased the rights to develop a New York Times Magazine story (Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change). It covers the 10-year period from 1979 to 1989, when "humanity settled the science of climate change and came surprisingly close to finding a solution."

Defending Jacob drama

Applepicked up drama series Defending Jacob, which will star Chris Evans, known for his roles in Captain America and The Avengers. It's a thriller based on William Landay's bestselling novel and covers the murder of a 14-year-old boy and his friend and suspect Jacob. Chris Evans was in the crowd for the Apple TV+ launch event which might point to this being one of the series available at launch. Apple reportedly ordered 10 episodes.

Will all Apple's content be family-friendly?

Apple is targeting a broad audience. It's reportedly avoiding content with nudity, raw language, and violence. It even had a dispute with Amazing Stories showrunner Bryan Fuller over its wishes to produce family-friendly content. It also shelved Vital Signs, an autobiographical show about hip hop artist Dr. Dre, as Apple CEO Tim Cook was said to be "troubled" by its use of guns, sex, and drugs.

Apple has maintained this line through apps it offers too, so it makes sense that Apple will continue to be family-friendly.

What about Apple TV channels?

The Apple TV app also allows you to sign up for third-party services. This is thanks to an Apple TV Channels feature that is separate from an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple partners with Showtime, HBO, CBS All Access, and more. So, you can pay extra and access those add-on channels using your iTunes account for all payments and billing.

Other partners include Starz, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, Comedy Central Now, Spectrum, DirecTV, Optimum, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, FuboTV, and more. Again, they're all accessible through the Apple TV app. As Apple puts it, you pay for what you want, and access it on-demand and ad-free through one app. You can even share with members of your family, too.

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is adding to its wearable portfolio that includes activity trackers like the Mi Band 3, with a smartwatch that looks remarkably like the Apple Watch.

The company revealed a number of product images of the smartwatch on its official Weibo account - a Chinese microblogging site - that not only shows what the purportedly-named Mi Watch will look like but what features we can expect from it too.

Like the Amazfit GTS, the Mi Watch certainly takes some design cues from Apple's smartwatch. The images show a rectangular face with rounded corners, a crown button on the right-hand side and a small pill-shaped button below it - all features the Apple Watch has offered since its launch. 

It looks like the Mi Watch will have a squarer casing and narrower straps where they meet the casing, but aside from that, from a distance, you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for the popular Apple Watch.

In terms of features, Xiaomi mentions built-in GPS, NFC and Wi-Fi, while there is also an indication of eSIM support and a speaker. It's also thought the Xiaomi Mi Watch will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chip, which many of the latest Wear OS devices offer, including the Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch and the Michael Kors Access MKGO.

The Xiaomi Mi Watch will be revealed in full on 5 November. It is expected a new smartphone from the company said to go by the name Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro in China and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 globally will also be shown. Xiaomi has already confirmed the smartphone would offer a 108MP penta-rear camera setup.

The latest episode of the Pocket-lint Podcast is here for you to enjoy right now.

In it, guest host Rik and features editor Britta look at Apple's busy week and reveal what makes its AirPods Pro so different to anything it has done before, and discuss the Apple TV+ launch.

Stuart meets with Amazon’s vice president of smart home, Daniel Rausche, to talk about the future of Alexa and the work going on behind the scenes to address privacy concerns.

And, in our review slot, associate editor Dan joins Rik to run the rule on the all-new Nvidia Shield TV and Fire TV Cube media streamers.

You can listen to the latest episode below - along with previous instalments - and also find out how to subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via Pippa here.

It is also available on Spotify, iTunes, Google and via RSS.

The weekly podcast goes live every Friday morning, bringing you 30 minutes of the latest tech news, a top industry interview, plus reviews of different gadgets in the most talked-about categories - all featuring the knowledge and experience of the Pocket-lint team and, sometimes, special guests.

We'll be talking to smart home and smartphone manufacturers, and many other tech wizards in the coming weeks and months, so make sure you get every episode automatically delivered to your device of choice.

If you enjoy Pocket-lint.com and the podcast, you can also sign up to our daily email newsletter here.

Previous interviewees 

Check out the people we've interviewed on previous episodes of the Pocket-lint podcast:

Episode 25: Bamily

We chatted with up-and-coming band Bamily about the use of tech in music and why it doesn't matter what digital quality you listen in, as long as you're listening.

Listen now

Episode 24: James Haskell

The former England and Wasps rugby union star talked to Stuart about sports technology and how it can be better utilised for training. He didn't hold back neither.

Listen now

Episode 23: Paul Franklin, Dneg

We got an insight on Hollywood special effects and digital actors from Oscar-winner Franklin in a great interview.

Listen now

Episode 22: Jesse Dorogusker, Square

Dorogusker gave us his opinion on stores like Amazon Go and whether customers will ever be comfortable with "invisible payment" systems.

Listen now

Episode 21: Ant Middleton

Editor Chris talked with the former SBS sniper and Royal Marine, now TV personality and author who revealed what he thinks about the latest Garmin sports watches and why his friends don't invite him paintballing.

Listen now

Episode 20: Caspar Thykier, Zappar

We spoke with the co-founder of Zappar, Caspar Thykier, who revealed how augmented reality can improve our lives in the years to come.

Listen now

Episode 19: Robert Llewellyn, Red Dwarf star

Stuart sat down with Red Dwarf star Robert Llewellyn, who is a self-confessed electric car lover, to chat about the ways to save energy and cut bills in our smart homes.

Listen now

Episode 18 - Damon Crowhurst, Samsung

We talked with Samsung’s head of visual display about the company's Wall TV concept. Plus, he revealed why displays are changing the way we shop, sporting events and much more.

Listen now

Episode 17 - Jordan Woodward, Rebellion

Fresh back from Gamescom, Pocket-lint's Rik Henderson caught up with Jordan Woodward the lead level designer at Rebellion to talk about the company's new game Zombie Army 4: Dead War, subscriptions and the wider discussions about in-game upgrades.

Listen now

Episode 16 - Sir Bradley Wiggins

Stuart interviewed Sir Bradley Wiggins, five-times Olympic Gold cycling medallist.  The former winner of the Tour de France and many other races talks about cycling, his new children's bike range launching with Halfords, and how he used tech to train.

Listen now

Episode 15 - Anthony Nicholson, Gearbox Software

Rik Henderson, Pocket-lint's resident gaming expert, flew to Los Angeles to interview Anthony Nicholson, senior producer at Gearbox Software to talk about the company's latest game; Borderlands 3.

Listen now

Episode 14 - Dr Alex Allan, Kortical

Stuart talked to Dr Alex Allan, the CTO and co-founder of AI startup Kortical about AI and how it has the potential to fundamentally change the way we work and play over the next decade and beyond.

Listen now

Episode 13 - George Vaughan, Ascot racecourse 

Stuart chatted with CTO of Ascot racecourse George Vaughan about how the site is embracing technology to stay relevant.

Listen now

Episode 12 - Rhys Morgan, The Royal Academy of Engineering

Stuart spoke with Rhys Morgan, a director at The Royal Academy of Engineering, about how the Academy is working to get more people involved in the trade.

Listen now

Episode 11 - Scott Harvey, Global Dating Insights

Scott Harvey, editor of Global Dating Insights, told us about the state of online dating and how it's changing traditional romantic behaviours.

Listen now

Episode 10 - Gareth Cousins

Stuart met Gareth Cousins, a Hollywood sound mixer who has worked on countless films and shows, including Gravity, Netflix's Our Planet, Baby Driver and Batman Begins. 

Listen now

Episode 9 - Swupnil Sahai, Swing

Swupnil Sahai explained all about his clever Apple Watch app, Swing, that tracks your tennis shots on court.

Listen now

Episode 8 - Will Bex-Russell, Henry Buckley and Monica Son, Virgin Atlantic

Pocket-lint Contributor David Phelan talked to the team behind the new Virgin Atlantic cabin redesign.

Listen now

Episode 7 - Lee Armstrong, Plane Finder

Lee Armstrong, CTO of Plane Finder, a website that tracks thousands of planes every day as they fly through our skies, discussed WWDC and how you track planes around the world. 

Listen now

Episode 6 - Jack Dorsey, Twitter

Stuart interviewed Twitter and Square CEO, Jack Dorsey, during London Tech Week to talk about the future of cash.

Listen now

Episode 5 - Jonathan Nicholson, CAA

Stuart spoke to Jonathan Nicholson, the assistant director of communications at the Civil Aviation Authority to talk about the future of drones.

Listen now

Episode 4 - Phil Tufnell, ex-England cricketer, TV presenter and Nissan ambassador

Rik Henderson interviewed Phil Tufnell about cricket, tech in the sport and how small, regional clubs can be made sustainable through solar energy technology.

Listen now

Episode 3 - Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm

Stuart caught up with Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon at the EE 5G launch event to talk about why he and the company believes 5G is so important.

Listen now

Episode 2 - Julian Standford, Dolby

Pocket-lint contributor David Phelan interviewed Julian Stanford, the man responsible for Dolby Cinema in Europe

Listen now

Episode 1 - David Monks, Rolls-Royce

In our first episode, Rolls-Royce’s Project Manager, David Monks, spoke to Stuart at the company's UK factory in the Sussex countryside. 

Listen now

While smartphones,smart homes and even smart wearables are growing ever more advanced, they're still limited by power. The battery hasn't advanced in decades. But we're on the verge of a power revolution.

Big technology and car companies are all too aware of the limitations of lithium-ion batteries. While chips and operating systems are becoming more efficient to save power we're still only looking at a day or two of use on a smartphone before having to recharge.

While it may be some time before we get a week's life out of our phones, development is progressing well. We've collected all the best battery discoveries that could be with us soon, from over the air charging to super-fast 30-second re-charging. Hopefully, you'll be seeing this tech in your gadgets soon.

• Upcoming phones: The future smartphones of 2019 

Asymmetric temperature modulation

Research has demonstrated a charging method that takes us a step closer to extreme fast charging - XFC - which aims to deliver 200 miles of electric car range in about 10 minutes with 400kW charging. One of the issues with charging is Li plating in batteries, so the asymmetric temperature modulation method charges at a higher temperature to reduce plating, but limits that to 10 minutes cycles, avoiding solid-electrolyte-interphase growth, which can reduce battery life. The method is reported to reduce battery degradation while allowing XFC charging. 

Sand battery gives three times more battery life

This alternative type of lithium-ion battery uses silicon to achieve three times better performance than current graphite li-ion batteries. The battery is still lithium-ion like the one found in your smartphone, but it uses silicon instead of graphite in the anodes.

Scientists at the University of California Riverside have been focused on nano silicon for a while, but it's been degrading too quickly and is tough to produce in large quantities. By using sand it can be purified, powdered then ground with salt and magnesium before being heated to remove oxygen resulting in pure silicon. This is porous and three-dimensional which helps in performance and, potentially, the life-span of the batteries. We originally picked up on this research in 2014 and now it's coming to fruition.

Silanano is a battery tech startup that's bringing this technique to market and has seen big investment from companies like Daimler and BMW. The company say that its solution can be dropped into existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing, so it's set for scalable deployment, promising 20 per cent battery performance boost now, or 40 per cent in the near future.

Capturing energy from Wi-Fi

While wireless inductive charging is common, being able to capture energy from Wi-Fi or other electromagnetic waves remains a challenge. A team of researchers, however, has developed a rectenna (radio wave harvesting antenna) that is only several atoms think, making it incredibly flexible. 

The idea is that devices can incorporate this molybdenum disulphide-based rectenna so that AC power can be harvested from Wi-Fi in the air and converted to DC, either to recharge a battery or power a device directly. That could see powered medical pills without the need for an internal battery (safer for the patient), or mobile devices that don't need to be connected to a power supply to recharge.

Energy harvested from the device owner

You could be the source of power for your next device, if research into TENGs comes to fruition. A TENG - or triboelectric nanogenerator - is a power harvesting technology which captures the electric current generated through contact of two materials.

A research team at Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute and the University of Surrey have given an insight into how this technology might be put into place to power things like wearable devices. While we're some way from seeing it in action, the research should give designers the tools they need to effectively understand and optimise future TENG implementation.

Gold nanowire batteries

Great minds over at the University of California Irvine have cracked nanowire batteries that can withstand plenty of recharging. The result could be future batteries that don't die.

Nanowires, a thousand times thinner than a human hair, pose a great possibility for future batteries. But they've always broken down when recharging. This discovery uses gold nanowires in a gel electrolyte to avoid that. In fact, these batteries were tested recharging over 200,000 times in three months and showed no degradation at all.

Solid state lithium-ion

Solid state batteries traditionally offer stability but at the cost of electrolyte transmissions. A paper published by Toyota scientists writes about their tests of a solid state battery which uses sulfide superionic conductors. All this means a superior battery.

The result is a battery that can operate at super capacitor levels to completely charge or discharge in just seven minutes - making it ideal for cars. Since it's solid state that also means it's far more stable and safer than current batteries. The solid-state unit should also be able to work in as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius and up to one hundred. 

The electrolyte materials still pose challenges so don't expect to see these in cars soon, but it's a step in the right direction towards safer, faster-charging batteries.

Grabat graphene batteries

Graphene batteries have the potential to be one of the most superior available. Grabat has developed graphene batteries that could offer electric cars a driving range of up to 500 miles on a charge. 

Graphenano, the company behind the development, says the batteries can be charged to full in just a few minutes and can charge and discharge 33 times faster than lithium ion. Discharge is also crucial for things like cars that want vast amounts of power in order to pull away quickly.

There's no word on if Grabat batteries are currently being used in any products, but the company has batteries available for cars, drones, bikes and even the home. 

Laser-made micro supercapacitors

Scientists at Rice University have made a breakthrough in micro-supercapacitors. Currently, they are expensive to make but using lasers that could soon change.

By using lasers to burn electrode patterns into sheets of plastic manufacturing costs and effort drop massively. The result is a battery that can charge 50 times faster than current batteries and discharge even slower than current supercapacitors. They're even tough, able to work after being bent over 10,000 times in testing.

Foam batteries

Prieto believes the future of batteries is 3D. The company has managed to crack this with its battery that uses a copper foam substrate.

This means these batteries will not only be safer, thanks to no flammable electrolyte, but they will also offer longer life, faster charging, five times higher density, be cheaper to make and be smaller than current offerings.

Prieto aims to place its batteries into small items first, like wearables. But it says the batteries can be upscaled so we could see them in phones and maybe even cars in the future.  

Foldable battery is paper-like but tough

The Jenax J.Flex battery has been developed to make bendable gadgets possible. The paper-like battery can fold and is waterproof meaning it can be integrated into clothing and wearables.

The battery has already been created and has even been safety tested, including being folded over 200,000 times without losing performance.

uBeam over the air charging

uBeam uses ultrasound to transmit electricity. Power is turned into sound waves, inaudible to humans and animals, which are transmitted and then converted back to power upon reaching the device.

The uBeam concept was stumbled upon by 25-year-old astrobiology graduate Meredith Perry. She started the company that will make it possible to charge gadgets over the air using a 5mm thick plate. These transmitters can be attached to walls, or made into decorative art, to beam power to smartphones and laptops. The gadgets just need a thin receiver in order to receive the charge.

StoreDot charges mobiles in 30 seconds

StoreDot, a start-up born from the nanotechnology department at Tel Aviv University, has developed the StoreDot charger. It works with current smartphones and uses biological semiconductors made from naturally occurring organic compounds known as peptides – short chains of amino acids - which are the building blocks of proteins.

The result is a charger that can recharge smartphones in 60 seconds. The battery comprises "non-flammable organic compounds encased in a multi-layer safety-protection structure that prevents over-voltage and heating", so there should be no issues with it exploding. 

The company has also revealed plans to build a battery for electric vehicles that charges in five minutes and offers a range of 300 miles. 

There's no word on when StoreDot batteries will be available on a global scale - we were expecting them to arrive in 2017 - but when they do we expect them to become incredibly popular.

Transparent solar charger

Alcatel has demoed a mobile phone with a transparent solar panel over the screen that would let users charge their phone by simply placing it in the sun.

Although it's not likely to be commercially available for some time, the company hopes that it will go some way to solving the daily issues of never having enough battery power. The phone will work with direct sunlight as well as standard lights, in the same way regular solar panels.

Aluminium-air battery gives 1,100 mile drive on a charge

A car has managed to drive 1,100 miles on a single battery charge. The secret to this super range is a type of battery technology called aluminium-air that uses oxygen from the air to fill its cathode. This makes it far lighter than liquid filled lithium-ion batteries to give car a far greater range.

Urine powered batteries

The Bill Gates Foundation is funding further research by Bristol Robotic Laboratory who discovered batteries that can be powered by urine. It’s efficient enough to charge a smartphone which the scientists have already shown off. But how does it work?

Using a Microbial Fuel Cell, micro-organisms take the urine, break it down and output electricity. 

Sound powered

Researchers in the UK have built a phone that is able to charge using ambient sound in the atmosphere around it.

The smartphone was built using a principle called the piezoelectric effect. Nanogenerators were created that harvest ambient noise and convert it into electric current. 

The nanorods even respond to the human voice, meaning chatty mobile users could actually power their own phone while they talk. 

Twenty times faster charge, Ryden dual carbon battery

Power Japan Plus has already announced this new battery technology called Ryden dual carbon. Not only will it last longer and charge faster than lithium but it can be made using the same factories where lithium batteries are built.

The batteries use carbon materials which mean they are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than current alternatives. It also means the batteries will charge twenty times faster than lithium ion. They will also be more durable, with the ability to last up to 3,000 charge cycles, plus they are safer with lower chance of fire or explosion. 

Sodium-ion batteries

Scientists in Japan are working on new types of batteries that don't need lithium like your smartphone battery. These new batteries will use sodium, one of the most common materials on the planet rather than rare lithium – and they'll be up to seven times more efficient than conventional batteries.

Research into sodium-ion batteries has been going on since the eighties in an attempt to find a cheaper alternative to lithium. By using salt, the sixth most common element on the planet, batteries can be made much cheaper. Commercialising the batteries is expected to begin for smartphones, cars and more in the next five to 10 years.

Upp hydrogen fuel cell charger

The Upp hydrogen fuel cell portable charger is available now. It uses hydrogen to power your phone keeping you off the gird and remaining environmentally friendly.

One hydrogen cell will provide five full charges of a mobile phone (25Wh capacity per cell). And the only by-product produced is water vapour. A USB type A socket means it will charge most USB devices with a 5V, 5W, 1000mA output.

Batteries with built-in fire extinguisher

It's not uncommon for lithium-ion batteries to overheat, catch on fire and possibly even explode. The battery in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a prime example. Researchers at Stanford university have come up with lithium-ion batteries with built-in fire extinguishers. 

The battery has a component called triphenyl phosphate, which is commonly used as a flame retardant in electronics, added to the plastic fibres to help keep the positive and negative electrodes apart. If the battery's temperature rises above 150 degrees C, the plastic fibres melt and the triphenyl phosphate chemical is released. Research shows this new method can stop batteries from catching fire in 0.4 seconds. 

Batteries that are safe from explosion

Lithium-ion batteries have a rather volatile liquid electrolyte porous material layer sandwiched between the anode and cathode layers. Mike Zimmerman, a researcher at Tufts University in Massachusetts, has developed a battery that has double the capacity of lithium-ion ones, but without the inherent dangers. 

Zimmerman's battery is incredibly thin, being slightly thicker than two credit cards, and swaps out the electrolyte liquid with a plastic film that has similar properties. It can withstand being pierced, shredded, and can be exposed to heat as it's not flammable. There's still a lot of research to be done before the technology could make it to market, but it's good to know safer options are out there. 

Liquid Flow batteries

Harvard scientists have developed a battery that stores its energy in organic molecules dissolved in neutral pH water. The researchers say this new method will let the Flow battery last an exceptionally long time compared to the current lithium-ion batteries.

It's unlikely we'll see the technology in smartphones and the like, as the liquid solution associated with Flow batteries is stored in large tanks, the larger the better. It's thought they could be an ideal way to store energy created by renewable energy solutions such as wind and solar. 

Indeed, research from Stanford University has used liquid metal in a flow battery with potentially great results, claiming double the voltage of conventional flow batteries. The team has suggested this might be a great way to store intermittent energy sources, like wind or solar, for rapid release to the grid on demand.

IBM and ETH Zurich and have developed a much smaller liquid flow battery that could potentially be used in mobile devices. This new battery claims to be able to not only supply power to components, but cool them at the same time. The two companies have discovered two liquids that are up to the task, and will be used in a system that can produce 1.4 Watts of power per square cm, with 1 Watt of power reserved for powering the battery. 

Zap&Go Carbon-ion battery

Oxford-based company ZapGo has developed and produced the first carbon-ion battery that's ready for consumer use now. A carbon-ion battery combines the superfast charging capabilities of a supercapacitor, with the performance of a Lithium-ion battery, all while being completely recyclable. 

The company has a powerbank charger that be fully charged in five minutes, and will then charge a smartphone up to full in two hours.

Zinc-air batteries

Scientists at Sydney University believe they've come up with a way of manufacturing zinc-air batteries for much cheaper than current methods. Zinc-air batteries can be considered superior to lithium-ion, because they don't catch fire. The only problem is they rely on expensive components to work.

Sydney Uni has managed to create a zinc-air battery without the need for the expensive components, but rather some cheaper alternatives. Safer, cheaper batteries could be on their way!

Smart clothing

Researchers at the University of Surrey are developing a way of you being able to use your clothing as a source of power. The battery is called a Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs), which converts movement into stored energy. The stored electricity can then be used to power mobile phones or devices such as Fitbit fitness trackers.

The technology could be applied to more than just clothing too, it could be integrated into the pavement, so when people constantly walk over it, it can store electricity which can then be used to power streelamps, or in a car's tyre so it can power a car. 

Stretchable batteries

Engineers at the University of California in San Diego have developed a stretchable biofuel cell that can generate electricity from sweat. The energy generated is said to be enough to power LEDs and Bluetooth radios, meaning it could one day power wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Samsung's graphene battery

Samsung has managed to develop "graphene balls" that are capable of boosting the capacity of its current lithium-ion batteries by 45 per cent, and and recharging five times faster than current batteries. To put that into context, Samsung says its new graphene-based battery can be recharged fully in 12 minutes, compared to roughly an hour for the current unit. 

Samsung also says it has uses beyond smartphones, saying it could be used for electric vehicles as it can withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius. 

Safer, faster charging of current Lithium-ion batteries

Scientists at WMG at the University of Warwick have developed a new technology that allows current Lithium-ion batteries to be charged up to five times faster that current recommended limits. The technology constantly measures a battery's temperature far more precisely than current methods.

Scientists have found that current batteries can in fact be pushed beyond their recommended limits without affecting performance or overheating. Maybe we don't need any of the other new batteries mentioned at all! 

True wireless earphones have become much more popular over the past couple of years. While completely wire-free earphones existed before the AirPods first launched in 2017, there's no denying the impact Apple has had, bringing momentum to the big breakthrough in wireless audio tech. 

• Best noise-cancelling headphones: The best 'phones to block out external sounds

Since then, countless other companies - including the best audio brands around - have entered the market and we've tested all the big-name options to bring you what we think are the best wire-free earphones available to buy. 

If you're not yet convinced you want to gamble on wire-free, this list may change your mind. If not, you can always check out our list of best in-ears instead. 

Our pick of the best true wireless earphones to buy today

Beats Powerbeats Pro

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When you combine comfortable design with great sound, long battery life and Apple H1 convenience you get an all-round fantastic pair of earphones. And that's exactly what the Powerbeats Pro is. 

For its first pair of wire-free earphones, Beats collaborated even more deeply with Apple than before; building all the internal components and the design from scratch. 

The more gentle curves and angles in the sculpted plastic casing make a pair of earphones that's super light and supremely comfortable to wear for long periods. It also happens to have battery life to match, with up to 9 hours of playback outside of the case. 

That's not all either, with it being Apple-owned, Beats gets access to Apple technology, and that means you get the same H1 chip that lives inside the second gen AirPods and AirPods Pro. That means simple pairing with iOS devices, and instant pairing with any device using the same iCloud account. 

Then there's sound, which really is quite impressive given the Powerbeats price point. Lots of bass, but plenty of detail in the highs and mids. The only downside is a lack of decent noise cancelling, which the AirPods Pro have.

• Beats Powerbeats Pro review

Sony WF-1000XM3

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Sony's first pair of noise cancelling wire-frees were received with a somewhat mixed response, but the newest generation is super. Where these are set apart from their rivals is in ANC. You'll struggle to find wire-free in-ears with great adaptive noise cancelling that adjusts to its surroundings, but in these, Sony has knocked it out of the park. They're really impressive. 

Add the over-ear quality ANC to a device with great sound, long battery life and a comfortable fit, and what you have is a winning combination. The look and design of the earbuds might divide opinion, but then that's true of pretty much any true wireless earphones. What Sony has done here is taken the superb capabilities of its flagship headphones, and crammed it into a tiny pair of wireless earphones. 

Perhaps the only limitation is that these really are just for music enjoyment. They're not water or sweat resistant like the AirPods Pro, and the design doesn't lend itself to being used for workout sessions. Still, the price is comfortably below the big-name audio brands, at a similar price point to the Powerbeats Pro, and that makes them very easy to recommend. 

• Read the Sony WF-1000XM3 review

Bose SoundSport Free

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They may not be the most attractive earphones, but when it comes to performance, sound, battery life and fit, they're unbeatable, especially if you want a pair that also stays securely in place during exercise. 

They're a bit bulky and protrude unusually from the ear, but with a design that's not too embedded within the ear, these buds are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end and won't fall out. Then there's the battery life of five hours per charge (and two charges in the accompanying case), meaning they can last an impressive 15 hours total.

Add that to the fact that they sound fantastic, with well-balanced bass, mid and treble, and plenty of detail, and you have probably the most well-rounded, everyday pairs of true wireless earphones. 

• Bose SoundSport Free review

Apple AirPods 2

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For iPhone users, the AirPods have been a smash hit. Despite the unusual looks, a combination of intelligent design choices and convenience make these very easy to recommend, especially as they are cheaper than the AirPods Pro. In the first generation, the W1 chip (now replaced by the H1) ensured it paired really easily with your iPhone, while they also automatically paired with any other Apple device using the same iCloud account. 

They're easy to get out of the portable charging case, which in itself, is well designed and easy to carry around. Perhaps its only weakness is that the sound isn't quite as dynamic or pleasing as the others on this list, or the Pro model. But as we've found out so many times in consumer electronics, convenience often wins out against sheer quality.

You'll be hard pushed to find someone who's used AirPods and not loved them. What's more, they can pair just like normal earphones with Android devices, if you want to use them cross-platform, it just loses some of that convenience that makes it so appealing. 

• Apple AirPods 2 review

Master & Dynamic MW07

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If you're all about looks, having something a little unique and soul-enriching sound, look no further than the Master & Dynamic MW07. We fell instantly in love with them on first look at the polished chromed case and stayed in love when we put them in our ears. 

They're super comfortable to wear, thanks to a unique in-ear fin design that grips securely without letting you know it's there. You can barely feel them in your ears, and yet they don't ever feel like they might fall out. 

What's more, in an age of very samey looking plastic earbuds, the patterned, attractive acrylic finish on the outside makes it stand out, and ensures you're not walking around with the typical bland plastic poking out of your earholes. 

Then there's the sound. They're truly fantastic to listen to. Lots of bass, dynamic detailed sound and great soundstage overall makes this the pair for those that just want to get lost in the music. They're not cheap, and the three-hour battery between docking isn't the best, but we loved every minuted with the MW07. 

• Master & Dynamic MW07 review

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless

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Sennheiser took some time to get into the wire-free game, but it was worth the wait. The company focussed on sensible styling and great, customisable sound with the Momentum True Wireless, and it paid off for the most part. 

You get aptX and Bluetooth 5.0 for solid, reliable connectivity as well as an app that allows really intuitive control over your sound profile. There's no complicated EQ fader in sight. What's more, they fit well, stay secure and aren't uncomfortable to wear. Plus, they're splash resistant. 

The pair comes in a portable, neat carrying case covered in a grey textured fabric that opens and snaps shut easily. Touch controls can be a tiny bit fiddly, and the three-hour battery life isn't the best, but certainly good enough for daily use. They charge quickly too. 

•  Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless review

BeoPlay E8 2.0

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B&O Play's first wire-free earbuds were fantastic. It's all about attractive, sensible style with great, customisable sound. We liked the app that comes with it, and the audio transparency feature can be useful at times too. For the second gen Beoplay E8's, it was about building on a winning formula and making it even better. 

B&O improved the battery life quite noticeably - although it still somewhat behind some of the more modern long-lasting earphones like the Powerbeats and the Sony pairs. What it does have, however, is a case that can be placed on a wireless charger for easy, convenient topping up, and a case with more battery inside it. 

The pricing is just about in line with what other flagship wire-free in-ears cost, and we're big fans of them. 

• B&O Play BeoPlay E8 2.0 review

Samsung Galaxy Buds

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So you don't want to spend nearly £300 to get a decent pair of wire-frees? That's where Samsung's latest attempt comes in. The biggest draw is undoubtedly the price. They're cheaper than any of the other big-name offerings, and they do the job well. 

If you have a Samsung device, you'll get similar pairing convenience to the Apple AirPods, and you get a wireless charging case as standard (no extra charge for that). 

• Samsung Galaxy Buds review

Bragi Dash Pro

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Bragi was one of the first companies to get in on the wire-free game, but it was never interested in just creating a pair of earphones for listening to music. It wanted to invent a new sub-category within the smart wearables market, offering more than just Bluetooth audio streaming. 

Bragi's Dash Pro is among the most powerful and feature-rich pairs around. It's got all the sensors required to measure your heart rate, steps, and can even be used to track swimming pool lengths. As well as that, they have audio transparency (if you want it), touch controls and live translation from audio to text, within an app. 

The problem with the Dash Pro is that it tries to do so much, that its battery life is a little weak compared to others in real everyday use. We got around two hours out of each full charge, and the fitness tracking wasn't as accurate or as useful as a GPS smartwatch would be. 

They sound good, are comfortable though and we've got to admire the ambition. 

• Bragi Dash Pro review

Besides being a gateway to adventures and the discovery of new worlds and experiences, giving children access to books is one of the important aspects of early years development: it develops not only language skills, but imagination and empathy too. 

We've always said that the Amazon Kindle is no replacement for the visceral feel and smell of a book – but it's a mite more convenient, as a library in its own cover, and is fantastic for reading when you can't access a ready stream of paperbacks. 

With the Kindle already offering a range of features specifically for kids, can the Kids Edition go one better?

A great Kindle, with added protection

• Based around standard Kindle
• 6-inch 167ppi E Ink display
• Front illumination 
• Weeks of battery life
• Comes with a case

The Kindle Kids Edition contains the entry-level Kindle – which we've fully reviewed here– so there's a strong starting point for this new offering from Amazon. It has a 6-inch display with front lighting and uses E Ink, so this isn't a tablet, it's designed for reading books.

The lighting on the front is a great addition. It's now a standard feature across Amazon's full range of Kindle devices and it means that the device can be read whether there's any light in the room or not.

When it comes to kids, that could be a slight disadvantage. You might turn off the bedroom light, but this Kindle's illumination means they can still read after lights-out time. Is that a bad thing? Is extra reading a negative? We'd argue it's nowhere near as negative as playing on an iPad instead of sleeping, but the advantage of illumination outweighs the downsides.

We've often used Kindles when camping and travelling – and front illumination means there's no need for a torch. When it comes to camping, that's a huge advantage. Yes, again it might mean they're quietly reading in the dark when they are supposed to be sleeping, but it also means they can read on a long flight without an extra light, or in the back of a car after the sun has set.

There's no waterproofing on this model of Kindle (and we've had one Kindle dropped in a paddling pool and one in the bath over the past few years), but there is a two-year warranty. There's also a cover – in blue or pink (in the UK); or with space station or bird designs (in the US) – which provide a degree of protection for the display and the rest of the device. The cover simply clips over the Kindle and while it's recommended that you use it, if you decide that you no longer want to then you can swap it for any other Kindle cover.

The Kindle battery lasts for weeks rather than hours. Thanks to the efficiency of the display technology, this isn't like a tablet that constantly needs charging, but at the same time it doesn't have all the functions that you'd get from a Fire Kids Edition tablet either.

A complete Kindle experience

• Secure area for kids to read
• Parental controls

While we've outlined that the hardware you get is essentially the same if you bought the regular Kindle, you'll find that the software is too.

That's a good thing: it means that while there's a lot in the Kindle to cater for children and making sure they can only access appropriate content, this isn't like buying a kid's toy – the software on this device is the same as you get on other Kindles. It's the complete experience.

So you might be buying this for a child, but it's perfectly capable of giving any adult the full Kindle experience too. That means access to the Kindle Store for buying books, it means support for Audible books, listing via Bluetooth headphones, and all the dictionary functions that Kindles offer.

Beyond that, there's the secure space you can use to put this in your kids hands and know that they can only access the books you want them to read. Called Fire for Kids in the UK, or FreeTime in the US, this creates a separate space for a child (or children) that's password protected, so that when they turn on their Kindle, they get the experience that's designed for them and they can't get to the "adult" side of the device. That means kids can't buy anything on your Amazon account or get to your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey. 

There's one difference to "normal" Kindles and that's the wallpaper you get in standby. On a normal Kindles you get various scholarly scenes – some pens, typesetting sorts, some folded newspapers – but on the Kids Edition you have kids characters and cartoon drawings, which gives it a bit of a lift.

With that in mind, there's nothing to stop you opting for the cheaper Kindle, setting up FreeTime or Fire for Kids, and being done with it – but what you're really buying in the Kindle Kids Edition is the bundle.

Unlimited reading

• 1-year subscription 
• Access to lots more content
• It's hassle-free

A big part of the reason to buy the Kid's Edition is the included year of FreeTime Unlimited (in the US) or Fire for Kids Unlimited (in the UK) subscription. Why Amazon can't just align its naming, we don't know.

This subscription is bundled into the price and gives you a year of access to content that's age-appropriate. When you set up your kids' profiles you'll be asked their ages and then content that falls into that age range is made available through the Unlimited subscription. It's the same as Kindle Unlimited for adults, but it's tailor-made for kids.

There's a huge advantage that comes with it, too, because it gives the child access to that content without the adult having to be involved. That means they can read the Harry Potter novels and then go on to find something similar and carry on reading, without you having to search for it and make it available to them.

So that's really two advantages: firstly, slightly older kids can find their own content and read it without you having to do anything; secondly, you're not having to pay for each piece of content they want to read.

Again, as we've pointed out previously, you don't actually have to have the Kindle Kids Edition to get access to Unlimited – it's a subscription you an opt into on any Kindle device – but the bundled year of access does add some value to this Kindle. We've found in our review device that we have access for up to four kids for the year – and that would normally cost you £49 if you're a Prime subscriber, or £79 if you're not. 

Content, as they say, is king – and Amazon's gamble here is that you'll continue with these subscriptions after the first year is up. What's hard to assess is whether there will be enough fresh content on an ongoing basis to make that worthwhile. Our experience is that often kids find content and read it so it feels worthwhile – and there's the bonus that it applies across Amazon devices, so will also apply to the Fire tablet too, if you happen to have one. 

Do I need to buy a Kids Edition Kindle for my kids?

Just so that we're clear, we're addressing this point as a standalone. No, you don't have to buy the Kindle Kids Edition to get access to the controlled reading environment designed for kids – that's available on all Kindle devices. Equally, you don't have to have the Kids Edition to get access to the Unlimited reading option either.

Back in September LG announced that it's latest OLED TVs were going to support Nvidia G-Sync for a smoother gaming experience. Now the company has followed up saying that the firmware update will start rolling out this week to certain models in its 2019 OLED line-up.

The company said this partnership with Nvidia should ensure "a smooth and immersive gaming experience without flickering, tearing or stuttering."

• LG reveals the world's first one millisecond g-sync compatible IPS gaming monitor
• The best monitor: Top 4K, Full HD and Quad HD options for creatives and gamers

Nvidia revealed it was partnering with various companies to create Big Format Gaming Displays last year, but this is the first time an OLED TV has been released with Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. 

This G-Sync tech ensures that the frame rates being put out by your gaming PC are matched by the display and syncronised for the best possible experience. 

LG says this update is rolling out to its 55 to 77-inch 4K OLED models. Of course, it's not just G-Sync that gamers should get excited about with these TVs as they are also packed full of other tech to enhance your gaming sessions like HDR 10 support, Dolby Vision, up to 120Hz refresh rate as well as both Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD for an enhanced sound experience. 

Matt Wuebbling, head of GeForce marketing at Nvidia commented "We are excited to bring G-Sync Compatible support to LG’s 2019 OLED TVs and HDMI Variable Refresh Rate support to our GeForce RTX 20-Series GPUs. Gamers will be blown away by the responsiveness and the lifelike visuals on these TVs when playing the latest PC games featuring real-time ray-tracing powered by GeForce."

The best news is this compatibility is now arriving in the form of a simple firmware update. Various models in LG's 2019 OLED TV line-up will get this update including the E9 (65 and 55 inches), C9 (77, 65 and 55 inches) and B9 (65 and 55 inches). The roll-out is starting in the US first, followed by other regions, with the promise of all regions getting the upgrade by the end of the year.