Maybe you bought a brand-new phone; maybe your phone just went through a major OS update. Either way, the result is the same: you can't connect it via Bluetooth to your older car anymore, which means you've lost the ability to rock out, enrich yourself with podcasts, or make hands-free calls.

As easy as it was to poke fun at Apple's pricey, wireless headphones when they were released, now that I own a pair myself, I love them. To get the most out of my AirPods, I went searching for some useful tips. I'm now sharing what I found so that everyone can benefit from my discoveries.

Android: It looks like Google is finally adding a long-missing feature to Android with its next big update. When Android P arrives this fall, you'll (finally) be able to set different default volumes for your various Bluetooth devices.

Google announced an overdue update for its smart speakers this week: You can finally connect your Google Home to another Bluetooth speaker with better sound quality. That's a huge improvement for the device, which works well but sounds pretty mediocre.

The humble padlock has been a mainstay of security for a long time. While outwardly simple, these 2,500 year old inventions have been used to secure everything from loads on trading routes to gates into our backyards. But they've now been given the "smart" treat - replacing the lock-and-key with a mechanism that is activated via a secure app on your smartphone. Don and Bone sell a variety of different Smartlock devices. I've tested their travel lock for suitcases and the Locksmart Mini - which is pretty darn big for something with the "mini" tag.

A few weeks ago i had a look at the new Tile Pro trackers and while I thought they were great at what they do and look pretty good, I did lament their lack of a replaceable battery - a criticism that Tile responded to. Chipolo offers an alternative with the Chipolo Classic - a round tracker that is about the same size as the Tile and offers a user-replaceable battery.

Android: Yesterday, Google announced an update to the way Android pairs with Bluetooth devices, making connecting some wireless headphones less of a headache. It's called Fast Pair, and while it only works with a few devices right now, the company is looking to convince manufacturers and add their compatible Bluetooth devices to the Fast Pair ecosystem.

Bluetooth technology can be a godsend for those of us trying to minimise the amount of cord clutter in our digital lives. But when your laptop, phone, or other device is hooked up via bluetooth to a wireless speaker or pair of headphones and the audio playback starts to stutter, it can be nothing short of infuriating.

A security researcher from F-Secure has discovered that toggling WiFi and Bluetooth in the iOS Control Centre doesn't actually turn the radios off. Aside from being completely counter-intuitive, it means the device's threat surface remains broader than users realise.

If you always leave Bluetooth on your phone on, you might want to rethink things.

BlueBorne is a set of eight flaws that collectively can be used to attack iOS, Android, WIndows and macOS devices. With many IoT devices using Bluetooth, this is a significant issue that could be exploited by an attacker to take over devices, steal data or launch other attacks.

I've been using various Tile trackers for the last couple of years. These thin, plastic devices contain a Bluetooth beacon that communicates with your Android or iOS smartphone so you can keep track of where your keys, or any other device you hook a Tile to, are. Today, Tile has released their new Pro Series trackers, the Style and the Sport, giving their trackers a stylish new look as well as a tech upgrade.

User interface design is hard, but we've been getting better at it over the years to the point where even a thermostat is easy to use. Automakers, however, seem to have their heads in the sand, taking their design inspiration for their infotainment consoles from old Winamp skins instead of any type of modern interface.

"The Cube" might look like something out of a spaceship, but it's actually a bonafide Bluetooth speaker. All science and no fiction, this powerful speaker lets you jam out in futuristic fashion, and it's on sale for nearly half-off.

Android: If you use a Bluetooth headset with your phone, you'll want to know when its battery is about to die. BatON can monitor your accessories and give you a notification when you need to charge them.

I am not an audiophile, but I do love convenience. And comfort. And it is quite inconvenient when you just want to use your headphones to drown out the subway and find yourself tangled in a cord like an invasive weed, or when the sound is dominated by the rustling stethoscopic vibrations of said cord. It is more convenient to have no wires at all. If you are also a fan of convenience, perhaps you should try some wireless Bluetooth headphones.

Android: If you have multiple Bluetooth speakers in your house, you need to manually switch to different speakers every time you want to play audio somewhere else. Bluetooth Speaker Switch gives you a handy widget to do it instead.

Sweat and electronics usually don’t mix--unless you’re jamming out with these Sweatproof Bluetooth Headphones. Immune to all that mid-workout sweat running down your head, these headphones are a solid workout companion.

Speakers aren’t known for their durability, but HomeSpot is hoping to change that with their new Rugged Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker. Designed to deflect dust, dirt, and moisture, this speaker can keep up with you wherever you go, and buying one won’t break the bank either.