Let's Talk Tech
1″ sensors explained!
Phone cameras are getting bigger and bigger! When we talk about phone cameras, we describe the sensor size as a fraction of an inch. If you’ve ever tried to measure a camera sensor though, those measurements are often FAR smaller than one inch.
Why do we do this?
This needs a little explaining… Continue reading “How big is a 1″ Camera Sensor? Why do we call it ‘One Inch’?”
I’ve been ANXIOUSLY awaiting the follow up to the Surface Duo, and now the Duo 2 is IN the GadgetLab! One of the most ambitious mini-tablet experiments of the year, hang out for a while as we unbox and set up this portable productivity powerhouse!
Dual display is fun. Continue reading “Microsoft Surface Duo 2! Juan’s INCREDIBLY Long Unboxing Livestream!”
New phones always sound like AMAZING upgrades, but if you’re buying a new phone JUST for a “nicer” camera, you might not be getting your money’s worth!
Let’s take a look at camera sensors, and chat about WHERE a new camera will deliver an improvement! Continue reading “DON’T Upgrade Your Phone JUST for a “BETTER” Camera!”
I’m not going to buy the iPhone 13.
I won’t be reviewing the iPhone 13.
If you’re curious why, let’s chat.
A quick test to show some of the differences in playback when we talk about different earbuds and different amps. Not all headphone jacks are created equal! Better DACs and amps improve our listening experience. Let’s see how that works!
SomeGadgetGuy DAC buying guide! https://somegadgetguy.com/2021/08/10/apple-music-lossless-amazon-music-hd-spotify-premium-tidal-masters-but-your-phone-doesnt-have-a-headphone-jack-dac-buying-guide/ Continue reading “What I mean when I talk about “weak” headphone amps on phones…”
A camera isn’t the same thing for every consumer.
Even though standalone cameras have become less popular for consumer point and shoot use, we still see an incredible variety of hardware and form-factors. There is no universal agreement on what a camera “is”. People still have entirely unique needs where those differences matter to the individual.
This isn’t just some oblique idea of specialty or “pro” use. At a basic level, someone’s specific needs will be better fulfilled by a tool designed for those needs.
Yet in the world of smartphone camera reviewing, we crouch a significant portion of the conversation behind some idea of “The Avuraj CunZoomer™”. We build phone camera conversations around a fallacy that there is some common or objective agreement on what a camera SHOULD be.
It’s only at the most regressively basic level that we might find some agreement.
You should be able to push a button that results in an image being captured.
Beyond that, cameras should specialize. We should see different pros and cons. That’s what makes cameras exciting. Continue reading “How techies get phone camera reviews wrong…”
Camera conversations love to focus on new features and listing all the hardware specs, but trying to describe WHY one camera might be better than another requires a LOT more nuance. It’s not as simple as which camera has “the gooder colors”, we gotta dig deeper than that.
Let’s chat about how a camera FEELS in the hand. 👍
Continue reading “WHY is the Pixel 5A camera SO good? It’s not what you think!”
It’s been one of the most frustrating trends in tech over the last several years.
Instead of improving the built-in headphone jacks on premium phones, manufacturers removed them to encourage more accessory sales. Bluetooth audio only became more popular when cabled audio was made more difficult to use.
Recently however, consumers have shown more interest in higher quality streaming. Despite all the tech reviewers claiming you “can’t even hear a difference”, or downplaying the audiophile community, it seems enough folks out there ARE interested in better audio and the gear to play that audio properly.
We know this market is real when Apple offers a streaming solution that their own phones can’t properly support.
Apple worked aggressively to make cabled audio a pain point, other manufacturers followed to make more sales, LG left the smartphone market, so now it’s up to us!
Here’s a (not so) quick primer on some different solutions for hooking up some headphones to a smartphone! Better music! Better movies! Better gaming!
Your ears will thank you! Continue reading “Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music HD, Spotify Premium, Tidal Masters – But Your Phone Doesn’t Have a Headphone Jack? DAC Buying Guide!”