Discussion

Posts promoting discussion around a single topic for users on the Portal to comment on.

The à la carte TV dream died before it ever got off the ground

The à la carte TV dream died before it ever got off the ground

July 1, 2020
Cordcutters are people who don't subscribe (literally) to the traditional forms of TV. One of the biggest reasons for "cutting the cord" (ie. canceling your cable subscription) is the bloated channel lineups and inflated costs. Many people look at a long list of channels and see a lot of stuff they'll never watch (but have...
Apple’s iOS 14 finally has widgets and they might be better than Android’s

Apple’s iOS 14 finally has widgets and they might be better than Android’s

June 22, 2020
If there's one feature that encapsulates the difference in philosophies between Apple's iOS and Android, it's widgets. Home screen widgets have been a part of Android since day one, and they can look pretty much however the developer wants. Apple has half-heartedly added minimal widgets to iOS through the Notification Center and "Today View," but...
Android wouldn’t be what it is today without HTC

Android wouldn’t be what it is today without HTC

June 17, 2020
This week, HTC is back in headlines with the announcement of the HTC Desire 20 Pro and U20 5G. If you read about these devices around the web, you’ll have probably seen a lot of comments like “HTC isn't dead yet?” or “HTC still makes phones?” Besides VR, the company hasn’t been doing much in...
Android 11’s power menu device controls finally bring the phone into the smart home

Android 11’s power menu device controls finally bring the phone into the smart home

June 14, 2020
Android 11 Beta 1 was released this week and it includes a bevy of great features. One that has stuck out to me ever since we first spotted it in earlier Developer Previews is the Device Controls in the Power Menu. As someone who has invested in smart home devices, this is a very exciting...
Last year’s flagship parts make this year’s “flagship killers”

Last year’s flagship parts make this year’s “flagship killers”

June 7, 2020
It's no mystery that 5G has a big impact on the prices of premium smartphones. Carriers see 5G as a marketing term they can tout even before it's actually widely available, resulting in manufacturers being pushed to include a feature not many people can use. 5G and the many components that are needed to support...
Google’s return to Android TV hardware is long overdue and I’m here for it

Google’s return to Android TV hardware is long overdue and I’m here for it

June 6, 2020
Google's relationship with media streaming hardware is a bit haphazard. While the company has sold several generations of Chromecast devices, they've had a mostly hands-off approach to Android TV. Interestingly, Google actually released the very first Android TV device, the Nexus Player, which stopped receiving support back in early 2018. We've been waiting ever since...
[Discussion] Do you think the Pixel 4a can save Google’s smartphone business?

[Discussion] Do you think the Pixel 4a can save Google’s smartphone business?

May 17, 2020
The Pixel 4a has been a hot topic this past week. We learned that the launch may be delayed until June, a YouTuber who already has the phone did a performance review, and to top it all off, we got our hands on 16 wallpapers from the Pixel 4a that you can download. The biggest...
What do you think of the new Apple iPhone SE?

What do you think of the new Apple iPhone SE?

April 16, 2020
Here at XDA-Developers, we don't really talk about the Apple iPhone as much as we could. This is despite the fact that the latest iPhones have consistently been the benchmark against which Android flagships are compared against, and thus parallels will always be drawn. Everything that Apple does draws attention from competitors, and each of...
XDA’s Top Smartphones of 2019

XDA’s Top Smartphones of 2019

December 31, 2019
It's truly crazy to think about all of the new technology that is launched in one year. 2019 was no different, of course. Hundreds of phones, hardware advancements, new software features, and even new form factors made headlines this year. So what was the best of the best? Some of the XDA Staff have put...
[Discussion] How long do you keep your phone?

[Discussion] How long do you keep your phone?

August 29, 2019
Smartphone longevity is something we probably don't talk about enough. We tend to get caught up in the cycle of new phones being announced almost every week. The average person isn't buying a new phone every week, month, or even year. In fact, according to recent research, the average Samsung phone is active for 16.5...
[Discussion] What do you think of the new gestures in Android Q?

[Discussion] What do you think of the new gestures in Android Q?

May 10, 2019
Android Q's third beta is now out for a number of devices---just like Android Pie's beta from last year, this beta build was released on several devices from multiple manufacturers, including those from OnePlus, Xiaomi, LG, and more. It was even released in the form of a GSI build so everyone can go ahead and...
Rear Camera Configurations — What’s the Future for Android?

Rear Camera Configurations — What’s the Future for Android?

April 27, 2019
We recently asked you about your preferences with rear camera layouts on smartphones. Seeing how Android has evolved from sporting a single rear camera to now as many as five cameras, their placement on the back lends itself to the aesthetic appeal of the device, as well as to practical decisions in holding the device...