EDITORIAL Posts on XDA

I love the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, and hate it too

I love the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, and hate it too

November 29, 2021
True story: I purchased and sold the original Microsoft Duo on three separate occasions. No, it wasn’t because I was flipping them for profit the way sneakerheads do with Jordans or savvy real estate investors do with houses. I lost money each time I sold the Duo. But I did it anyway because I had...
The Google Pixel 6 is the modern-day Nexus 5

The Google Pixel 6 is the modern-day Nexus 5

November 19, 2021
The Google Nexus 5 was my first real introduction to the true world of smartphone modding, and maybe it was for you too. An easily unlocked bootloader, a litany of custom ROMs to choose from, and a thriving community filled with like-minded smartphone enthusiasts made this phone my ingress to the XDA-Developers forums. I had...
Please shut up about cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the ‘Web 3.0’

Please shut up about cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the ‘Web 3.0’

November 15, 2021
I've been excited about technology for as long as I can remember, because most of the time, it leads to better lives for everyone involved. Affordable technology (like the budget smartphones we often cover here at XDA) and ever-growing access to the internet has led to greater opportunities and more enjoyable lives for billions of...
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 may not be an ‘Ultra’ phone, but that’s the right move

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 may not be an ‘Ultra’ phone, but that’s the right move

July 17, 2021
Ever since Samsung introduced the idea of a foldable phone, opinions from consumers and media have been divided on the product category. Some believe foldables are the future, while others think it's an overpriced gimmick. I've been firmly in the former camp since day one. In fact, I'm so hardcore about foldables I paid $800...
Marshmallow Is What Lollipop Should Have Been, but XDA Made Lollipop Better

Marshmallow Is What Lollipop Should Have Been, but XDA Made Lollipop Better

November 9, 2015
It’s been around two weeks since I began testing the Nexus 5X for an upcoming review, and while writing the section on software, I couldn’t help but feel that it wouldn’t be able to cover some of the more subjective thoughts I have on Marshmallow. Therefore, I want to let those thoughts out in an editorial,...
The A9 is Not the Hero HTC Needs, Nor the One it Deserves

The A9 is Not the Hero HTC Needs, Nor the One it Deserves

October 20, 2015
Be brilliant -- that is HTC’s current catchphrase, one that they are not afraid of uttering at every corner. But as opposed to the old Quietly Brilliant, this slogan sounds more like a reaffirmation than a statement, one that HTC desperately needs to keep people hooked on their future. It hasn’t been a good year for HTC; shortly...
Sacrificing Android Innovation With Customers In Mind

Sacrificing Android Innovation With Customers In Mind

August 20, 2015
Every year OEMs bring out countless new devices, with ‘new and improved’ features, in an attempt to sate our hunger for technology. However, how much control do we really have on these developments? Is the market being guided and directed by consumers, or are we blindly following the breadcrumb path set to make us think...
The Note 5 Marks the Decline of a Power User Flagship Line

The Note 5 Marks the Decline of a Power User Flagship Line

August 14, 2015
DISCLAIMER: This is an editorial based on early impressions. I will update my thoughts once I get a hands-on look next week. It is not just the S-pen, or the big and rich screen. It’s the whole package, from the powerful internal hardware to the software additions that the competition still has not beaten. Let’s remember...
Inconsistent & Misleading Reviews: Can We Fix Them?

Inconsistent & Misleading Reviews: Can We Fix Them?

May 11, 2015
The blogosphere of Android has something for everyone - sites that focus on geek lifestyles, others that center on hardware, and then there’s websites like XDA that put a strong emphasis on the software and what it can do. Just like with Android itself, the diverse options allow anyone to find a favorite site or...
Apple Appeal Episode II: The Store Under Sauron’s Watch

Apple Appeal Episode II: The Store Under Sauron’s Watch

April 12, 2015
In our last editorial adventure we took a look at my first incursion into an American Apple Store, and how the experience differed from typical technology retailers. We explored the tactics that Apple uses to convince its customers that they are buying into something grand, and how manipulative some of their psychological exploits were. Moreover,...