How techies get phone camera reviews wrong…

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…”

WHY is the Pixel 5A camera SO good? It’s not what you think!

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!”

Budget phones: When is Cheap, TOO Cheap? (Feat. Nuu X6 Plus)

While some of the most expensive phones of the year are shipping out to people who pre-ordered, I thought it would be kinda fun to chat about the LEAST expensive phone I could get my hands on this year!

Question for you. When is a cheap phone TOO cheap? I’m spending some  time with the Nuu X6 Plus, and it’s interesting taking an inexpensive  phone for a spin.

Let’s chat. Continue reading “Budget phones: When is Cheap, TOO Cheap? (Feat. Nuu X6 Plus)”

Google Pixel 5A vs iPhone SE: What real competition looks like!

We love phone showdowns. People cheer their “team”. We get emotionally invested in the products we buy and use.

It’s surprisingly difficult to properly divide up phones into categories where those comparisons are fair. It’s casually easy to look at a landscape of phones under $500 and pick a few for a fight. If you’ve followed my videos and reviews, you know I really like to get more specific about what KIND of device a phone might be.

I don’t think price is the decider as much as functionality or the target consumer demographic.

We should compare “communicator” phones against other communicator phones. Content creation phones should be compared against other creator phones. Gaming phones should be compared against gaming phones (and the Nintendo Switch).

With all that said, allow me to be a hypocrite as I purposely select two phones to fight based on price! Continue reading “Google Pixel 5A vs iPhone SE: What real competition looks like!”

The Pixel 5A is BORING!

Pixel 5A First impressions!

And boy howdy is THIS PHONE BORING! But seriously tho, maybe that’s OK? Maybe it’s ok to just give us better battery life and the promise of solid long term support. Maybe “exciting” isn’t what a lot of consumers need right now?

Let’s chat… Continue reading “The Pixel 5A is BORING!”

Six Things Sony NEEDS to NOT do to Their Next Headphones! WH-1000XM5 Success?

I certainly have a reputation for being the CABLED audio nerd. I genuinely believe in cabled audio as the best solution for quality and consistency. That does NOT mean I don’t enjoy some Bluetooth solutions for convenience and noise reduction. I’m not about to take my really fancy open-back cans on a road trip or flight.

The headphones I’ve been using the most over the last two years took a dive onto tile, and unfortunately did not survive. My Wife took pity on me, and for my birthday, she hooked me up with a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4s!

In a fancy blue color no less.

Using them for a couple days now, I’m as impressed as I was when I got to test drive some XM3’s, and I already have some thoughts on what Sony might do for the XM5’s.

Let’s nerd out on some GOOD travel audio! Continue reading “Six Things Sony NEEDS to NOT do to Their Next Headphones! WH-1000XM5 Success?”

Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music HD, Spotify Premium, Tidal Masters – But Your Phone Doesn’t Have a Headphone Jack? DAC Buying Guide!

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!”

Did you buy a Surface Duo on a CRAZY Sale? Welcome to the Dual Display Club!

Easily one of my favorite gadgets of 2020.

The Surface Duo helped change my mind on using Android for tablets. It hasn’t been all roses, but this extremely ambitious folding tablet was a refreshing change of pace from the rest of the gadget lineup last year.

It’s so good, it makes me a little concerned for a Duo 2…

Continue reading “Did you buy a Surface Duo on a CRAZY Sale? Welcome to the Dual Display Club!”