XDA Analysis

For longer articles that analyze trends, smartphones, companies, etc. Articles in this category are automatically placed in the “Analysis & Opinion” sidebar in the Forums.

The Amazon Appstore is just as bad as I thought it’d be (but there is hope)

The Amazon Appstore is just as bad as I thought it’d be (but there is hope)

July 11, 2022
I've been testing the Amazon Fire 7 tablet recently and one thing I've always suspected is that the Amazon Appstore is not...to put it politely...good. Yes, that is putting it politely. I had a bit of anecdotal evidence to support that, but nothing concrete. So I decided to look where the rubber meets the road...
I checked out Samsung’s ‘Galaxy Harajuku’ flagship store in Japan, and it was amazing

I checked out Samsung’s ‘Galaxy Harajuku’ flagship store in Japan, and it was amazing

July 11, 2022
Over the past decade, Samsung has become quite the technology juggernaut, dabbling in all aspects of consumer and commercial products and dominating many of the same segments.  So it would make sense to have a presence in major markets, not only with its products but also with physical retail locations. In 2019, Samsung opened its...
I use an Amazon Echo Dot as an alarm for the dumbest reason…in the world

I use an Amazon Echo Dot as an alarm for the dumbest reason…in the world

July 3, 2022
Is it old-fashioned to keep a clock on your nightstand? Perhaps, but even in the age of smartphones and smart speakers, I can't live without one. I don't like waking up all blurry-eyed, still mostly asleep, scrambling for a phone, and still not really seeing the time. And sometimes I want to wake up to...
Why I spent $350 on an Amazon Kindle e-reader twice, and would do so a third time

Why I spent $350 on an Amazon Kindle e-reader twice, and would do so a third time

July 2, 2022
"I love the smell of a book." "You just can't beat the feel of a real book." "I really enjoy digging through a physical bookstore and finding what I want to read." "I guess I'm just old-fashioned." These are all things that I've heard from people about why they prefer to read physical books instead of digital ones. They're...
Is the Amazon Echo Sub worth buying over other speakers in 2022?

Is the Amazon Echo Sub worth buying over other speakers in 2022?

July 1, 2022
Amazon has a vast array of smart speakers and other home devices. There are many ways to get Amazon's virtual assistant into your home, and the list of these Alexa-enabled devices continues to keep growing. If you haven't been paying attention to Amazon's ever-evolving lineup of Echo devices, then the Echo Sub may have flown...
iOS 16 reflects Apple’s submission to the Android philosophy

iOS 16 reflects Apple’s submission to the Android philosophy

July 1, 2022
The iOS vs Android argument predates human civilization has existed since the release of these operating systems. We're all entitled to our own opinions. Whether these subjective views are logical, factual, or in sync with the hive mind is irrelevant. As mature adults, we accept these differences in others. Nonetheless, we also get to criticize...
The Amazon Echo Flex is so cheap, it’s the perfect starter smart home device

The Amazon Echo Flex is so cheap, it’s the perfect starter smart home device

July 1, 2022
I've written previously that the Amazon Echo Dot is the cheapest smart speaker from the company that you would want to buy. While I stand by that, I'm also not afraid to admit that it's quite harsh on the Echo Flex. The crucial difference is that only one of these two is good for listening...
The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the magic wand I had hoped it would be

The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the magic wand I had hoped it would be

June 21, 2022
I've had my eyes set on the Apple Pencil ever since the first-gen model came out. If you're a regular XDA reader, you're probably aware of my passion towards Apple products and the tight ecosystem that links them all together. Brainwashed FanBoi or not, there's no denying that these devices communicate on a deep level...
It’s high time Google added fine-grained volume control to Android

It’s high time Google added fine-grained volume control to Android

June 18, 2022
I like to listen to podcasts and audiobooks at bedtime as it helps me sleep better. Ideally, you want just the right amount of volume when listening to an audiobook or podcast in a quiet setting — something that remains comfortable to listen to for an extended period. A bit louder, and it becomes a...
Internet Explorer is dead – A look back at Microsoft’s browser history

Internet Explorer is dead – A look back at Microsoft’s browser history

June 15, 2022
After nearly 27 years, Microsoft is killing off Internet Explorer, its in-house web browser that's now the subject of memes and parody Twitter accounts about how slow it is. Indeed, it's been a long and bumpy road for the legacy browser, and it's a symbol of the company that Microsoft used to be. Instead of focusing...
The story of the impossible port: How Quake was ported to the Game Boy Advance

The story of the impossible port: How Quake was ported to the Game Boy Advance

June 14, 2022
The Game Boy Advance is a handheld games console created by Nintendo. It was released in Japan in 2001 and served as the successor to the Game Boy Color. It had an ARM7TDMI clocked at 16.78 MHz, 32kb of internal work RAM, 256kb of external RAM, and 96kb of VRAM. It's not the most powerful...
iOS 16 makes it easy to meme your friends, or create YouTube thumbnails

iOS 16 makes it easy to meme your friends, or create YouTube thumbnails

June 13, 2022
When I tested the developer beta version of iPadOS 16 last week, I gave the bulk of the attention to the new "Stage Manager" feature, which when paired with (also new) external display support, fundamentally changes what an iPad can become. But there was another feature I briefly touched on that has plenty of potential:...