Posts From Daniel Marchena

Daniel Marchena
81 posts

I've had a love for Android since 2009 but I also use iOS regularly. While I love rooting and customization, I tend to focus more on living with my devices. I also am just starting out writing in the PC space as I have always had a leaning towards this market. I am always all ears so PM, or Tweet me if you have any questions!

OnePlus 6 Silk White Hands-On: A Luxurious Pearlescent Design at the Same Affordable Price
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OnePlus 6 Silk White Hands-On: A Luxurious Pearlescent Design at the Same Affordable Price

June 3, 2018
OnePlus has a well-documented release strategy for its devices: launch a few colors, and then release flashier designs throughout the device’s six-month lifespan. Last year’s OnePlus 5T is a tough act to follow, not just because of its specs, but because it introduced the blindingly bright Lava Red and the nostalgia-inducing Sandstone White. Just a...
Sony Xperia XZ2 Review: Revamped Design & Improved Camera, Same Steep Price
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Sony Xperia XZ2 Review: Revamped Design & Improved Camera, Same Steep Price

May 29, 2018
Sony’s Android smartphone endeavors stretch back quite some time, starting with the Sony Ericsson, X10 series in 2010. Since then, Sony has struggled with the typical highs and lows of the industry that led them to what most people know Sony smartphones by: the redesigned Z series with a designed dubbed “OmniBalance”. This flat glass...
It is time for Google to fix its Android Security Update Problem
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It is time for Google to fix its Android Security Update Problem

April 28, 2018
If the largest, richest OEM does a terrible job and gets away with it, how can we expect any better of the rest of them? Samsung makes pretty good phones--great ones, even. They are also one of the few OEMs that actually profit on their device sales, and one of only two to make a sizable...
Guide: How to Get iPhone X-Like Gestures on Android, But with More Customization
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Guide: How to Get iPhone X-Like Gestures on Android, But with More Customization

February 5, 2018
The iPhone X is a polarizing smartphone, but one thing Apple did right was ditch the physical Home button and replace it with a series of software-based swipe gestures. While Android has had software navigation for years, most OEMs haven't capitalized on it in the way that Apple has with the iPhone X. If you're like...
How Samsung’s Continuous Improvements Reinforce Their Promising 2018 Prospects
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How Samsung’s Continuous Improvements Reinforce Their Promising 2018 Prospects

January 13, 2018
Samsung is likely going to have an excellent 2018 -- or so they say. That's a sentiment I've seen echoed across all corners of the Android community, and it's not an unjustified expectation. Some point to the fact that they outspend most other OEMs in advertising, that they are supported by their ever-improving chip and...
No, The Pixel Did Not “Outsell” the iPhone X this Holiday Weekend
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No, The Pixel Did Not “Outsell” the iPhone X this Holiday Weekend

December 28, 2017
If you have been following headlines these past few days you likely have seen a slew of articles with titles not just strongly indicating, but explicitly stating that the Pixel 2 "activated more devices" over the Christmas weekend than iPhones. Unfortunately, the truth runs counter to such claims, though the original report still shows promise...
The Huawei Mate 10 Duo is Held Back by Nonsensical Feature Disparities
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The Huawei Mate 10 Duo is Held Back by Nonsensical Feature Disparities

October 29, 2017
Just why does the Huawei Mate 10 Pro omit so many "pro" features? Early this year, while I was still reeling from the Note7 disaster, I was on the hunt for a large, powerhouse Android phone. Traditionally I have two phones I alternate between, a smaller and a larger one. Usually one of these is an...
Some Pixel 2 Models Are Failing To Flash Factory Images, OTA Updates Failing to Install as Well
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Some Pixel 2 Models Are Failing To Flash Factory Images, OTA Updates Failing to Install as Well

October 26, 2017
Seemingly out of the blue yesterday, Google announced the Android 8.1 Oreo preview program for Pixel and Nexus devices stretching back to the Nexus 5X. It took some time for Google to update their preview program sign-up site to support the newly released Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones, so many of us took...
Here is a Crazy Thought: Google Should Buy HTC’s Crumbling Mobile Division
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Here is a Crazy Thought: Google Should Buy HTC’s Crumbling Mobile Division

August 31, 2017
Almost exactly six years ago Google did something quite unexpected: they announced they were purchasing Motorola Mobility. At the time Google was not really building its own hardware for its Android division, nor were they branding any Android hardware as their own. They had the Nexus lineup but Nexus was always about partial ownership between...
Essential is Bleeding Consumer Trust Before its Products Even Reach Customer Hands
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Essential is Bleeding Consumer Trust Before its Products Even Reach Customer Hands

August 29, 2017
Whenever a new device is announced, manufacturers make statements and promises -- sometimes it almost feels as if the statements are meant to be forgotten, and the promises broken after everyone’s attention has withered. Blame can be put on both the manufacturer and the recipient (though only in part): the manufacturer for making a promise...
Source: Samsung Galaxy S9 Launching with Snapdragon 845, Android 8.0.0 Oreo
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Source: Samsung Galaxy S9 Launching with Snapdragon 845, Android 8.0.0 Oreo

August 29, 2017
Samsung is on a roll recently with the well-received Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ and the newly-introduced Note 8 breaking pre-order and sales numbers. While they had a rough end to 2016 they are quickly building pace and putting the past behind them. The Galaxy S9 is still 6 months or more away, but that...
Moto Z2 Force Mini Review: A Surprisingly Refreshing Experience that Requires an Expensive Commitment to Moto Mods
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Moto Z2 Force Mini Review: A Surprisingly Refreshing Experience that Requires an Expensive Commitment to Moto Mods

August 19, 2017
Lenovo has a lot on the line with its 2017 offerings, and the flagship Moto Z2 Force may be the most important of them all. It's not only their premium smartphone, but it also inherits the Moto Mods strategy that Motorola began last year, and all the constraints that come with it. Before we take a...