As bitterly cold temperatures hit the UK, we’re well prepared for shivering, being able to see our breath and generally being uncomfortable. But did you know you could have a much bigger problem - your iPhone getting so cold it stops working?

When your phone gets too cold, the results range from mildly annoying to truly concerning. On one end of the scale your phone might not be able to detect your touch on the screen, on the other, the battery of your handset will deplete much faster, and if it gets really cold it will just turn off altogether.

To shed some light on why this happens, phone recycling specialist Envirofone, has taken a look at the reasons why our iPhones seem to hate the cold as much as we do.

As it turns out, there is a technical reason behind the problem - the battery. All iPhones use a type of battery called Lithium-Ion, and while these battery types have their advantages they do not fare well in the cold.

With Apple stating that the iPhones and other iOS devices operate most efficiently when the ambient temperature is between 0ºC and 35º C, the iPhone is actually designed to shut down automatically under certain conditions, such as extremely cold temperatures.

So, now we know that the cold is a real problem for our phones and not just a figment of our imagination, what can we do to stop it happening?

Do your battery - and hands - a favour in the bitter cold and keep them in pockets, avoiding exposing them to the cold unless absolutely necessary. We know it might be tempting to check your phone to distract yourself from the freezing conditions, but if you want to keep your phone working, those texts and Facebook notifications will have to wait.

If you haven’t already, ensure your iPhone also has a case - we wouldn’t dream of going out in the cold without a coat afterall.

Richard Mavers, director of group marketing and online strategy at Envirofone, said: “People often speculate about whether or not the cold really does affect the iPhone’s battery. Now we know it does, it is important to avoid subjecting your iPhone to extremely cold conditions. Minimise the use of your phone outside when temperatures drop, and keep it warm in a pocket or bag where possible.”

A new great war between the Alliance and the Horde will erupt this summer—and starting today, World of Warcraft players around the globe can seek out new champions to fight for their faction’s cause. Blizzard Entertainment today announced that Battle for Azeroth, the next expansion to the world’s most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, is now available for pre-purchase at www.worldofwarcraft.com.

Players who pre-purchase Battle for Azeroth today can begin their journey to recruit four of the expansion’s new Allied Races, each representing comrades they’ve fought alongside on the Broken Isles and Argus in the game’s most recent expansion, Legion. Upon winning the respect of an Allied Race by completing quests and earning reputation, players will unlock the ability to create characters of that race and set out on a new adventure across Azeroth.^† Alliance players can add the shadow-touched Void elves and valiant Lightforged draenei to their ranks, while members of the Horde will be able to bring the ancient Nightborne and noble Highmountain tauren into their faction’s fold—with additional Allied Races to come in the future.

Pre-purchasing Battle for Azeroth also grants the included level-110 character boost immediately, so players can enter the expansion ready to fight on the front lines of the coming war. Upon Battle for Azeroth’s launch, heroes will be called upon to seek reinforcements in the seafaring kingdom of Kul Tiras and troll empire of Zandalar; battle for strategic control of Stromgarde, a new 20-player cooperative Warfront; and embark on Island Expeditions, where bands from rival factions race to claim resources on treacherous uncharted terrain.

“Battle for Azeroth brings a whole new dimension to the Horde-vs.-Alliance conflict in World of Warcraft, with a new continent to explore for each faction and brand-new gameplay features like Allied Races, randomized Island Expeditions, and large-scale Warfronts,” said Mike Morhaime, “No matter which side they fight for, players’ dedication to their faction will be put to the test when the new expansion arrives this summer.”

Players who choose to level up a new Allied Race will also be able to enjoy World of Warcraft’s recently revamped level 1 to 100 questing experience. Building upon a popular feature introduced on the Broken Isles in Legion, zones across Azeroth, Outland, and Draenor now scale to a wide range of character levels, making it so players can enjoy the quests, stories, and other content at their own pace. Those who complete the full level 20–110 experience^† as an Allied Race character will also earn that race’s distinctive Heritage Armor—a set of cosmetic gear that represents their dedication to finding their people’s place in Azeroth.

Parents across the West Midlands are increasingly turning their backs on technology when it comes to playtime, according to a new poll.

New research has revealed that parents in the region are battling to make sure imaginative games, such as making dens and playing make believe, don’t become a thing of the past as electronic toys become more and more popular.

The recent poll carried out by beloved toy manufacturer PLAYMOBIL revealed 75 percent of the parents in the West Midlands are worried that imaginary games are waning in popularity amongst their children as TVs, computer games and electronic devices take over play time.

The research, which targeted 1,500 parents of 5-11 year olds, found that eight in 10 parents in the West Midlands wished their children used their imagination more. The survey also revealed that 91 percent of the parents said they actively try to steer their children away from gadgets, but as a result the typical family has almost five arguments a week when parents remove gadgets from their youngsters.

Parents in the survey said playtime was now very different to their day, with almost 40 percent in the region wishing their children were more interested in playing in the garden, whilst over a third of the mums and dads wanted their youngsters to play more independently with non-electronic toys.

However parents did confess that constraints on their own lives sometimes made it difficult to create an imaginative environment. Of those surveyed in the region, over 40 percent of parents confessed to lacking the time to create an environment in the home where their children can be more imaginative, and over 80 percent of the parents often feel hypocritical because they spend so much time online themselves.

Jamie Dickinson, Marketing Manager at PLAYMOBIL, said: “Imagination is such an important part of childhood, and something that as parents we all want to nurture in our children.

“However with the rise of technology there are now more options than ever for children when it comes to choosing how to spend playtime. It is sometimes hard for parents to get children to spend time away from the computer or TV screen and use their imagination to create their own world using toys like PLAYMOBIL, but it is a vital part of play.”

Over 65 percent of the parents in the West Midlands said their children’s favourite thing to do is to watch YouTube videos on a phone or tablet. And 77 percent said it was hard to strike the right balance when it comes to gadgets, as they are keen for their children to be technologically savvy, but not spend too long glued to a screen.

Dr Claire Halsey, Clinical Psychologist and Child Development and Independent Parenting Expert, worked with PLAYMOBIL to investigate the results of the research and found them in line with her own experience.

“First and foremost, it’s important to remember that play is for fun. Play is the everyday ‘work’ of children and it is how they explore, learn and satisfy their own curiosity about their world. With so many positive areas of learning and development linked to play it’s no surprise that it’s important for parents to ensure their child experiences a wide variety of play.

“There is clear evidence over the past couple of generations that the balance has tipped away from traditional games and time spent being active outdoors towards more time indoors in electronic play. But striking the right balance is key for children’s development in a multitude of ways, and parents play the central role in making good decisions.”

Is your new year’s resolution to get fit and active? If you live in east Birmingham there’s a great incentive on your doorstep with the opening of the brand new Stechford Leisure Centre on Station Road.

The new Stechford Leisure Centre is a huge asset to the local community, providing state of the art equipment and facilities for a whole range of sports and recreation.

Inside the light and airy modern building there is a 25-metre competition pool with spectator seating as well as a dedicated teaching pool ideal for budding swimmers of all ages to learn with More Swimming Academy.  The whole family can have fun in the water tackling Aqua Challenge, the exciting, giant inflatable obstacle course.  As well as public sessions at weekends and in school holidays, Aqua Challenge may be reserved for private parties.

A spacious, 100-station gym is equipped with the latest in cardio and resistance kit, plus a free weights area with instructors on hand to help you get the most from your exercise sessions. An extensive workout programme including Bodypump, Bodycombat, studio cycling, as well as yoga and many other fitness classes, will run seven days a week in the studio space. A flexible new 4-court sports hall will be home to activities such as tennis, badminton, football to name but a few.  Children’s holiday play activities and birthday parties will also be available.

For those taking health seriously, then a look into Boditrax, the NHS approved body composition tool is a must.  You can find out your essential statistics and monitor your progress towards a fitter, more active lifestyle with help from qualified instructors.

Construction has taken just over a year. The £9 million replacement for the former Stechford Cascades is part of a city wide investment of nearly £40million by Birmingham City Council in conjunction with Sport England and is the second of four new complexes to be completed.

Staff from the old facility will be among 60 people to be employed at the new Leisure Centre in a range of roles including reception, lifeguards, fitness instructors, catering and cleaning. A number of new apprentice roles are being created to support the existing workforce.

Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT), has overseen the project, working in partnership with Birmingham City Council (BCC) and Sport England. BCLT will manage the new centre once it opens its doors on Monday 8 January.

BCLT Chair, Brian Taylor, said: “With the opening of this, the second of our brand new leisure centres for the people of Birmingham, I am once again proud to hand over an excellent, purpose built facility for our community to enjoy. We have a great team based at Stechford Leisure Centre to show you around, answer your questions about activities, classes and membership options.  I hope you will be inspired to come and make great use of this wonderful new centre and that 2018 will be your healthiest, most active yet.’

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, added: “I am delighted that our residents in Stechford and the surrounding area now have a brand new leisure centre. As the recently named Host City for the Commonwealth Games in 2022, it is vital we continue to support first-class grassroots sporting facilities for Birmingham and I thank our partners for working with us to provide cost effective and modern buildings such as this. Despite the considerable financial challenge we face, this shows we will continue to support and encourage people to remain active and pursue a healthy lifestyle.”

Construction at Northfield in the south of the city is approaching completion and the new Northfield Leisure Centre will open in spring 2018. It will be built and managed by BCLT. The Trust has also delivered a programme of refurbishments to Fox Hollies Leisure Centre; Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre; Beeches Leisure Centre and Wyndley Leisure Centre.

ISG Construction plc has undertaken the construction of the new leisure centres at Erdington, Stechford and Northfield to designs by Calderpeel Architects.

Owners of old Samsung Galaxy handsets should sell their phone now before the value plummets ahead of the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S9, new research has revealed.

Phone specialist, Envirofone, analysed sales and industry data and found that the value of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to drop by 8% in the run-up to the launch of the S9, followed by a further 11% after it launches, which could cost sellers over £50.

The figures reveal that the best time to sell is a few weeks before the Galaxy S9 launches, meaning that if you’re looking to get the best deal on your S8, the time to sell is now. It’s a similar story for Samsung Galaxy S7 owners looking to trade in their phone. The old handset is expected to drop by 6% after the new handset launches, which is rumoured to be in late February.

Speaking about the findings, Justin Woolridge, Commercial Marketing Manager at Envirofone, commented: “When the latest Samsung handset is released, and during the weeks following launch, we see the value of older handsets depreciate dramatically. The market becomes flooded with older handsets, as people look to sell on their old phone after getting their hands on the latest model and, as such, the value of these older phones drops.

When it comes to selling your phone, being ahead of the curve could mean you get a better deal. Those who traded in or sold their old Samsung handset in 2017 got an average of nearly 20% more for their device than those who looked to trade in after the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy. Sell now and you’ll get a better deal.”

Here, Justin gives his top tips for those looking to make an extra cash this month.

Have a phone clear out

Be honest, when you get an upgrade or buy a new model, how often do those old phones get relegated to the back of a drawer, never to be seen again? The rule to play by is if you haven’t used it in the last year you probably never will, so take a few hours to have a clear out at home. At the very least you’ll clear some much-needed space in your home and you never know - you could be sitting on a fortune.

Trade it in

While selling your old phone on a second-hand site or via social media is an option, trading in your handset on sites such as Envirofone gives you extra protection. You can even get money for phones that are damaged, which is ideal if your old tech is looking like it’s seen better days.

Buy a cheap handset, or keep a spare to hand

You could end up with a gap of around four to six weeks without a handset if you decide to trade in now, but don’t worry. You can pick up a cheap handset from a refurbished or second-hand phone retailer to keep yourself connected before launch, or keep an older phone on hand to use in the month before launch.

Property sellers have been given an invaluable insight into the minds of buyers, with the latest eye tracking technology used to reveal what people really look at during viewings.

Researchers followed prospective buyers as they toured available properties wearing spectacles tracking their eye movements. Some 27 per cent of time was spent looking at furnishings, while 24 per cent of the focus was on personal effects and clutter.

Perhaps surprisingly, just four per cent of time was dedicated to considering the layout of a property, while the same amount was given to repairs or structural features including door frames, suggesting these issues are not as important to buyers.

Antony Gibson, Sales Managing Director at Romans, says: “It is clear that sellers must prioritise the aesthetic appeal of their home in order to impress buyers. We all know first impressions count for a lot when marketing a property, but these findings show presenting attractive living spaces throughout a house is a must.

“From furnishings to photos, there are plenty of belongings that catch the eye of viewers and go a long way towards forming a positive opinion.

“Interestingly, even those buyers who did not mention clutter in their post-viewing feedback to estate agents found their eyes repeatedly drawn to it while in a messy room, so it is vital sellers carry out a thorough clean and tidy before going on to the market.”

The study for Anglian Home Improvements also revealed a difference between the viewing tendencies of men and women, with males spending more time looking at the structure and features of a building while females were more focused on personal elements such as decoration.

Antony adds: “These results also highlight the benefits of attending viewings with other people, such as parents or friends, to ensure all aspects of a property are seen.”