Category: Editorials

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Why do gadget fans hate grandmothers so much?

I enjoy a good Twitter row as much as the next geek.

We had a fun showdown this morning with some “unpopular” opinions. Some critical tweets posted about how Google is using gestures on the next version of Android. Some critical replies to those tweets. Rinse. Repeat. Good solid nerd fun, and of course I had to throw my two cents into the fray.

Now, I don’t believe this is a controversial idea. The most dangerous concept here is asking someone to consider the implications of using their phone in a slightly unfamiliar way. Geeks have become some of the most reactionary tech consumers when it comes to the notion of change, but I’ll have to save that for another editorial.

I got a handful of replies. Some folks agreed, some disagreed, but I got a couple of replies that took me by surprise. Not people voicing concerns over their own use, but feigning concern for their family.

That could be noble. I know quite a few gadget geeks who really do worry about how a UI change might affect their family. The best gadget reviewers NEVER belittle a switch from Android to iOS or vice versa. Changes like that can be tough on people. Familiarity matters.

Alas not today. The justification was not pointing out the stress or confusion which comes from change. The big fear was their own frustration in having to deal with non-techie family.

“Use 3D touch as a home button? Yeah, try explaining that to grandmother!” Continue reading “Why do gadget fans hate grandmothers so much?”

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What stops YOU from using the Google Pixel 3a?

The Pixel 3a is CRAZY overkill for just covering the basics, but that seems to be the main takeaway from a lot of reviewers. So, I’m genuinely asking, what do you do on your phone? What would legit stop you from picking up a less expensive device? Let’s chat! Continue reading “What stops YOU from using the Google Pixel 3a?”

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Pixel 3a doesn’t just cover the basics: Your tech elitism costs you cash

Before we get into this, I’d like you to check something on your phone. Look through your app drawer. Look up your battery stats. If you use any kind of Digital Wellbeing tracking, look at the list of services used. I’d like you to look up what apps and services really get used on your phone. I’ll come back to this, but you probably already know where I’m going after reading the title of this editorial.

Quick flashback.

In 2016 I was in Germany covering IFA with Jaime for Pocketnow. We had just finished a Huawei presser, the company showing off a new pair of premium mid-range phones. This was a bit confusing between all the various lines of Huawei and Honor gear, but they sent us away with a Nova and a Nova Plus to demo and review.

I was extremely skeptical. This phone was going to be expensive for its internals, starting at €400. Pricing it above my precious Honor 8 felt “wrong”. I am a professional though, so I popped the smaller Nova out of its box, gave Jaime the larger phone, and we shot a first impressions video from our hotel.

Reading the specs, being concerned about price, and then using the phone, those concerns slowly evaporated. Continue reading “Pixel 3a doesn’t just cover the basics: Your tech elitism costs you cash”

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Reverse Wireless Charging is a Silly Gimmick

Is Samsung PowerShare a gimmick? Are you using reverse wireless charging on your Samsung or Huawei? Should you be taxing your phone battery to charge other gadgets? Let’s chat about gimmicks, deal breakers, and getting what we pay for.

When a phone has a feature that consumers might not use often, we call it a gimmick, and then act like it’s a travesty people are paying for something they might not use. How much is wireless charging “peace of mind” worth to a phone’s bottom line?
Continue reading “Reverse Wireless Charging is a Silly Gimmick”

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The OnePlus 7 Pro DOES have a 3X OPTICAL Zoom – Why generic consumer measurements suck…

Looks like we needed something to be outraged about.

A flurry of stories have been published, claiming deceit on the part of OnePlus. The zoom on the OnePlus 7 Pro camera is a LIE! It’s NOT really a 3X zoom! PITCHFORKS! TORCHES!

Except it is. It’s exactly what OnePlus advertised it to be. In fact, it’s a little better than what they advertised. You get a little more than what they listed on the spec sheet. The main thing OnePlus is guilty of is a clumsy execution, which we shouldn’t be too surprised about. This company is regularly “charmingly clumsy”.

We’ve got a lot to unpack here.

First of all, Very few phones really have a ZOOM lens. Continue reading “The OnePlus 7 Pro DOES have a 3X OPTICAL Zoom – Why generic consumer measurements suck…”

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Mrs. GadgetGuy’s First Reaction to the OnePlus 7 Pro, Written as a One-Act Play!

I like to check in with my Wife as a barometer for where “general” consumers might be when it comes to new gadgets. She currently uses a work issued iPhone 8 (which she asked for specifically as she wanted a smaller phone with TouchID), and she still has not given back my LG G7 after breaking her previous phone.

Typically when she buys her own phones, she’s leaned towards the entry level. She was excited by her Alcatel Idol 3, where she got a small phone, with stereo speakers, for less than it cost to replace the screen on her cracked Galaxy S5.

After that she got a Moto G5, where she was stoked to have a metal backed phone for cheap. Both the Idol and the Moto succumbed to the destructive environment of her purse, so she’s “borrowing” my G7, in a rugged armor case.

It’s doing OK…

So, I was curious what she would think about the OnePlus 7 Pro. No prep. No coaching. Just put the phone in her hand, and see how she would react.

Unsurprisingly, she kept it pretty practical. Continue reading “Mrs. GadgetGuy’s First Reaction to the OnePlus 7 Pro, Written as a One-Act Play!”

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I’m excited for Pixel 3a BECAUSE it’s not a phone for me!

#TeamPixel sent over a #GiftFromGoogle! Here’s why I’m excited about the Pixel3a! Let’s chat real quick, since I’ve only had the phone out of the box for about ten minutes! Reviews and analysis to come!
Continue reading “I’m excited for Pixel 3a BECAUSE it’s not a phone for me!”

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A response to the DXO review of the LG V40: They’re not wrong, but…

Better late than never DXO?

The V40 has been ranked and scored at DXO, and the results aren’t what LG fans might have been hoping for. A combined score of 93 places the V40 well outside the top ten list of current phones. It’s just above an iPhone 8, and just below a Note 8 in DXO’s ranking.

LG fans are understandably “not thrilled” with this conclusion, especially for how long the phone has been out. Sort of adding an insult to the injury of delaying their review this long.

The thing is, based on the way DXO shoots and analyzes image quality, they’re not wrong. The DXO testing suite is very consistent.

They just might not test for what you use…

Continue reading “A response to the DXO review of the LG V40: They’re not wrong, but…”

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