Technology lover Archives - Page 5 of 7

March 20, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 17 vs 17e: Which Should You Buy? (UK Buyer’s Guide)

Last updated: 29 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The iPhone 17 vs 17e decision is one most UK buyers are wrestling with right now. Apple's 17e landed on 11 March at £599, sitting a full £200 below the standard iPhone 17 at £799. Both run the same A19 chip and pack a 48MP main camera, so on paper they look remarkably similar. However, dig a little deeper and the differences start to matter. Whether you care about refresh rates, camera flexibility or simply getting the best value, this guide breaks down every key difference so you can decide with confidence.

Still choosing between models? My iPhone guides hub collects the lot, from the 16e comparison to refurbished deals and SIM plans.

Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: apple, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone comparison, smartphones, tech, UK buyer's guide

March 20, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Smart Speakers UK: HomePod vs Sonos vs Echo Compared

Last updated: 2 October 2026

A speaker is also the hub for everything else you add later, so it is worth reading it alongside my smart home guides.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best smart speakers UK buyers can actually get their hands on in 2026 is oddly complicated. Apple wants you all-in on Siri and AirPlay. Sonos wants you to forget about voice assistants and just listen. Amazon wants you to talk to Alexa about literally everything, including your shopping list. Three very different philosophies, three very different ecosystems, and a surprisingly wide range of prices.

This guide cuts through the noise. I compare every current speaker worth considering from Apple, Sonos and Amazon. In particular, I cover sound quality, stereo pairing rules, multi-room setups, app quality, ecosystem lock-in, future-proofing and genuine value for money. Whether you want a single kitchen speaker or a whole-home audio system, I will help you pick the right one.

Published by Stiv in Audiophiles, Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AirPlay, alexa, Amazon Echo, Dolby Atmos, Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, HomePod, HomePod Mini, multi-room audio, Siri, smart home, smart speakers, Sonos Era 100, Sonos Era 300

March 14, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Switch from ChatGPT to Claude (and Take Your History With You)

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

If you've been thinking about making the switch from ChatGPT to Claude, you're not alone. Following OpenAI's deal with the US Department of War — and Anthropic's very public refusal to accept similar terms — users have been leaving ChatGPT in their millions. According to data from Sensor Tower, reported by TechCrunch, US uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app surged 295% in a single day on 28 February. Claude, meanwhile, shot to the number one spot on the US App Store for the first time in the app's history.

But switching AI tools isn't just a matter of downloading a new app. The more you've used ChatGPT, the more it knows about you — your tone preferences, your projects, your working style. Starting from scratch can feel like losing months of work. The good news? Anthropic has made it remarkably easy to bring your context with you.

Here's exactly how to switch from ChatGPT to Claude without leaving everything behind.

Published by Stiv in AI, AI Tools & Shortcuts, ChatGPT Guides, Tech Hacks, Technology lover

Tags: AI guide, AI tools, Anthropic, ChatGPT, Claude, how to, memory import, OpenAI, switch AI

March 6, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best AI Assistant UK 2026: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best AI assistant UK users can trust in 2026 isn't as simple as picking the one with the catchiest name. Between Anthropic walking away from a $200 million Pentagon contract, a growing "Quit ChatGPT" movement, and genuine questions about where your data ends up, this is a decision that actually matters now. We've dug into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and others to compare everything from pricing and privacy to military contracts and water consumption — all with a UK lens.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AI chatbot comparison, AI comparison 2026, AI data storage GDPR, AI environmental impact, AI military use, AI privacy UK, best AI assistant UK, ChatGPT UK, Claude AI UK, Gemini AI UK, Perplexity UK, which AI to use UK

March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 17e UK: What You Actually Get for £699

Last updated: 22 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The iPhone 17e UK launch landed on 11 March 2026 at £599, the same price Apple charged for the 16e the year before. Apple has since raised it to £699, from 9 September 2026. Either way, you're getting double the storage, MagSafe, and a faster chip. It's not a revolution. It was never meant to be. Here's our honest take on what Apple's cheapest iPhone actually delivers and where it quietly cuts corners.

Comparing the 17e with the rest of the range? My iPhone guides hub has every iPhone guide in one place, plus Apple's current UK prices.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19 chip, apple, Apple UK, Back Market, budget iPhone, iPhone 16e vs 17e, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17e review, iPhone 17e UK, iPhone 2026, MagSafe, refurbished iPhone, smartphone

March 4, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

ChatGPT Gets a Fresh Upgrade: GPT-5.3 Instant Rolls Out

OpenAI has shipped a new version of its default “Instant” ChatGPT model: GPT-5.3 Instant. The headline changes are practical: a more natural tone, fewer unnecessary refusals, and stronger web-search synthesis, with OpenAI also claiming fewer hallucinations.

What’s new: better day-to-day answers, less “overly cautious” vibe, and improved results when ChatGPT searches the web.

Best for: quick research, decision help, writing, and “just answer the question” tasks without the extra theatre.

Published by Stiv in AI, AI Tools & Shortcuts, ChatGPT Guides, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AI tools, AI updates, ChatGPT, GPT-5.3, OpenAI, Productivity, Tech news, Web search

March 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 17e Buyer’s Guide: Every Upgrade That Matters

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Looks like Apple’s “affordable iPhone” is now a yearly habit, and the iPhone 16e vs 17e decision is basically: do you want MagSafe and more storage, or do you want to save cash on a still-solid phone?

The iPhone 16e brought the modern basics (full-screen design, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera) into the budget lane. The new iPhone 17e keeps the same vibe, but upgrades the bits you’ll notice every day: charging, storage, durability, and silicon.

Quick take: If you use wireless charging (or want magnetic car mounts, wallets, and snap-on accessories), the 17e is the easy pick. If you’re buying outright and see a chunky discount on the 16e, that’s when the older model becomes tempting.

Looking at the wider iPhone range? My iPhone guides hub covers the iPhone 18 Pro, refurbished iPhones and SIM-only plans too.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19, apple, buying guide, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, iPhone comparison, MagSafe, uk deals, wireless charging

February 17, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Google Pixel Watch 4 review (UK): gorgeous, clever, and very “pick a side”

Last updated: 17 February 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Quick summary: This Pixel Watch 4 review explains who it’s for (Android people), who it’s not for (iPhone people), and what’s actually improved.

Price check: UK prices tend to float between £279 (41mm WiFi) and £449 (LTE), depending on colour, strap, and retailer.

Check the Pixel Watch 4 41mm WiFi price
Check the Pixel Watch 4 LTE price

If you’re eyeing the Pixel Watch 4, here’s the truth: it’s not a neutral little timepiece. It’s an Android companion device with opinions. Pair it with an Android phone and it’s brilliant. Pair it with an iPhone and it’s basically a lovely, expensive reminder that tech companies enjoy building walled gardens.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Reviews, Technology lover, Watch lovers

Tags: Android smartwatch, Fitbit, gadgets, Gemini, Google Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 4, smartwatch review, UK tech, Wear OS

February 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

New AirTag Review UK: AirTag 2 vs Gen 1 Compared

Last updated: 27 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5

If you're looking for a new AirTag review, here's the short version: Apple's 2nd generation AirTag is louder, tracks from further away, and costs the same as before. It's a genuinely useful upgrade, especially for travellers. However, for many people who mostly lose things around the house, a discounted Gen 1 pack still makes plenty of sense. So which one should you actually buy? Let's break it down.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Apple apps, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover, Travel lover

Tags: AirTag, AirTag 2, Amazon deals, apple, Apple Watch, Find My, gadgets, key finder, luggage tracker, UK tech

December 24, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

What Perfume Do Billionaires Wear? The Honest Answer (2026)

Last updated: 26 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice. This post contains links to a product sold by CoolCuration.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

What billionaire perfume actually smells like is one of the internet's most persistent late-night search queries. So we looked into it. The honest answer? Nobody really knows. There are no confirmed endorsements, no verified interviews, and no "signature scent" launches from the world's richest people. However, that hasn't stopped millions of us from wondering. In this post, we break down what we do know, what we can reasonably guess, and why a parody fragrance might be the closest anyone gets to smelling like a billionaire.

Published by Stiv in Gift Guide, Gift Guides, Perfumist, Reviews, Technology lover

Tags: billionaire lifestyle, billionaire perfume, celebrity fragrance, luxury scent, niche perfume, opinion piece, parody perfume