Craig Grannell

England

Freelance Writer and Journalist at Freelance

Writer/journo /// Find me here: https://t.co/RrLY74Z1rB /// @WiredUK/@StuffTV/@TapSmart /// Tech/apps/games /// He/him /// Email: hello at craiggrannell dot com

Articles

Think different about Home Screens: ditch the icon grid

2 days ago | tapsmart.com | Craig Grannell

Apple didn’t invent the app icon grid – desktops and older phones got there first. But the iPhone made it – ahem – iconic. This setup made sense in 2007, when you had just 15 apps to juggle. Then the App Store arrived – and chaos ensued. I quickly hit the original Home Screens limit and resorted to trickery to squeeze in more. And then gave up and started launching apps using Spotlight instead. Today, Apple devices are still stuck with icon grids, but I think we can do better.
Netflix’s smart AI plans expose Meta AI as a dumpster fire from hell

5 days ago | stuff.tv | Craig Grannell

AI is terrible. AI will improve our future. Whether you love or hate AI, holding both those thoughts in your head at the same time might make it hurt. But you should. Because last week, two industry giants perfectly demonstrated how both statements can be true. Yes, AI can be a menace and a boon – it all depends on how it’s being used. Right now, Netflix and Meta are using AI in very different ways. One is solving problems. The other is inviting us to stare into the abyss. Netflix first.
iPhone Air: Apple’s ‘thinnovation’ obsession risks making a smartphone where less actually is just less

1 week ago | tapsmart.com | Craig Grannell

All tech demands compromise – and Apple gear is no exception. But as the rumor mill continues to churn about the upcoming iPhone Air, a familiar unease is bubbling up. The singular obsession appears to be making the thinnest iPhone that ever thinned. It’ll be skinny. Svelte. Sleek. Slender. And every other synonym you can think of. But what’s set to get the chop in Apple’s pursuit of ultimate thinness? Not power, according to reports. And not the display.
Why this Pixar Luxo Jr. set just bounced to the top of my Lego wishlist

1 week ago | stuff.tv | Craig Grannell

If you’re of a certain vintage – like me – chances are your jaw hit the floor the first time you witnessed Pixar’s Luxo Jr. That cheeky little lamp! All boundless energy, until – spoiler – over-exuberant bounding resulted in a tragic encounter with a ball, which left ball and lamp alike deflated. A sad cinematic moment indeed. Fortunately, you won’t be deflated by Lego’s take on this animated tale. And that’s because the Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set looks fantastic.
The must-have travel apps that will transform your summer holiday

1 week ago | aol.co.uk | Craig Grannell

Smartphones are steadily rendering other devices – and even physical media – obsolete. Your phone is now your camera, newspaper, library, map, entertainment hub, shopping portal, and more. This versatility becomes even more crucial when travelling. Forget bulky guidebooks and single-purpose gadgets, your phone can streamline your packing. Sure, it can’t replace your wardrobe (yet), but it can replace many other items you’d have once lugged around the world. And it’s a boon for planning too.
Lego’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is an out-of-this-world 2-for-1 classic, featuring the best of NASA and Boeing

1 week ago | stuff.tv | Craig Grannell

The Space Shuttle looks all majestic when it’s blazing through the heavens. When it’s back down on the ground? Not so great. It can’t get far under its own steam, and even US freeways aren’t monstrous enough for the thing to be carted about on the back of several large trucks. Hence it being slapped on the back of a Boeing 747 instead, a feat Lego has now immortalised in brick-built form as an Icons set for NASA (and, we guess, Boeing) fans: Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. So what do you get in the box?
The classic game: Zookeeper DX

1 week ago | tapsmart.com | Craig Grannell

The latest entry in our classics series, Zookeeper DX (2011), was a tile-swapping game we didn’t want to swap for anything else. Before we get to the DX-ed version, let’s rewind to the original Zoo Keeper. It was a browser-based game that shamelessly ‘borrowed’ from famous match-three effort Bejeweled. The main twist initially appeared to be that you swapped adorable critters rather than shiny stones. But this simple take on a classic formula exploded in popularity for reasons I’ll get to shortly.
Google axing Nest smart thermostat support gives me the chills

1 week ago | stuff.tv | Craig Grannell

Thermostats aren’t phones. This is, I’m sure you’ll agree, the kind of hard-hitting, incisive tech commentary you’ve come to expect from my Stuff scribblings. Thermostats. Phones. Completely different things. “Yeah, cheers, Craig”, you might reply. And wonder if there’s a number you can call to have someone check I’m OK, in case the recent bout of hot weather in the UK has fried my brain. But I’m serious here, and it throws up an important question.
Ultimate freebies 2025 - 15 free iPhone and iPad apps that offer something for nothing

1 week ago | tapsmart.com | Craig Grannell

Can you really get something great for nothing on the App Store? That’s the question – and not just when it comes to the big-name apps everyone now expects to be free. (Let’s be honest – no one’s rushing to pay for a maps app when Apple Maps comes preinstalled on every Apple device and Google Maps costs nothing.)This article is about true surprises – apps that offer genuinely impressive features for free, especially in areas where you’d usually expect to pay.
Car Apps Toolkit: top iPhone apps, tips, and gear for drivers

2 weeks ago | tapsmart.com | Craig Grannell

The Apple Car might forever remain a pipe dream, but your iPhone can still turbocharge your driving experience. Here’s how to hit the gas with the best apps, tips, and accessories for safer, smarter journeys. Explore CarPlay: If your car supports CarPlay, use it! Connect your iPhone to your car for a dashboard experience designed for driving – way better than your phone wobbling around on a charging stand. Be prepared: Whatever setup you have, get familiar with it before you hit the road.