Google Nexus Event 2015: The Good, the Great, and the Less Good

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Google kicked off today with an amazing event centered around hardware. Last year's Nexus event was definitely a disappointment. A giant, 5.9 inch Moto X copy for $649? No way. Fortunately, this year was different. Amazing hardware for a surprisingly fair price is what Google showed today. If you're unfamiliar with Google's Nexus line, the goal of Nexus is to sell devices as Google envisions the Android hardware environment. For example, since Android Marshmallow introduced the use of USB-C, both new Nexus devices this year support this charging technology. The same for fingerprint sensors.

I'll start with the LG Nexus 5X, the sequel to the widely liked LG Nexus 5 in 2013. The 5X has many improvements to the 5, sporting dual front-facing speakers, a 12.3 megapixel camera, and a Snapdragon 808 chip. While these are fantastic for a phone that is only $379 for the cheapest variant, I'm disappointed in general with this device. The 5X only has 2GB of RAM. Compare this to the OnePlus 2's 3GB, or the Asus Zenfone's 4GB for similar prices. And with Android 5.0+'s frequent memory leak issues, this definitely isn't a good thing. Another low point of the 5X is the storage, its lowest price option only having 16GB of storage, and its highest having 32GB, with no micro-SD card slot. Even if you can deal with these, there's still the less than impressive 2,700 mAh battery. The 5X may still be a good option if you're looking for a fairly regularly sized device with stock Android, but I think a price around $320 would have been more fair.

The other Nexus, the Huawei Nexus 6P, stole the show for me. QHD 5.7 inch screen, all-metal body, dual front-facing speakers, Snapdragon 810, 3GB RAM, and a giant 3,450 mAh battery. Absolutely gorgeous. When the specs for this device were leaked a few days ago, I definitely expected it to cost around $649 like last year's Nexus 6. I wouldn't even think that would be a bad price, I just wouldn't buy it. When I found out the 6P will be $499, I was shocked. I'm pretty certain this will be my next phone at this point. Unsurprisingly, lots of people have issue with the large black bar at the top of the back. Android Police reported today that that black bar houses multiple sensors that cannot reach outside of the metal body, so it has a reason. Personally, I don't mind it.

Google also announced that Android Marshmallow will be rolling out to current Nexus devices, oldest being the Nexus 5 starting next week. (Sorry Nexus 4!) Other announcements include a new Google Play Music family plan for $14.99/mo, an upgraded Chromecast for $35 with Spotify support, and the new Pixel C Android tablet.

Intro to Root on Android

If you're an Android user who has never heard of "rooting" your device, you're most likely in the majority. Jailbreaking is a much more famous term, referring to the similar process on iOS. Rooting your device is the act of gaining root privileges, or admin access. This allows you to change quite literally any part of your phone's OS. Why isn't this enabled by default? Well, because you can change anything, it's also possible to break your OS by tampering with the wrong thing. Because of this, many manufacturers also make the act of rooting your device void your warranty, so proceed with caution.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to root your Android device. Firstly, many phone companies and carriers add what's called "bloatware" to your phone, or apps you'll never use that simply take up space. Rooting allows you to remove these apps. Customization is also a major feature, from being able to change minute parts of the OS using things like the Xposed Framework, to completely installing a new one. Rooting can even let you gain better battery life through apps like Greenify, automate processes using Tasker, and even block ads.

Depending on your device, there are different methods for rooting out there. I'll get into how to root in a later post. First I'll introduce you to some common terminology you'll need so you won't be completely lost.

• Rooting - The act of gaining administrator access on your device.
• SuperSU - An app that manages which apps on your device have access to root privileges.
• Bootloader - The piece of software inside your phone that decides which OS to boot into.
• Knox - Samsung's security software that makes rooting more difficult.
• Flashing - The act of installing software outside of the OS.
• Sideloading - Installing apps without using the Google Play Store. (via USB, ADB, or APK.)
• ADB - Android Debug Bridge. Lets you control your phone by plugging it into your computer.
• Recovery - Booted outside of the OS from the bootloader, lets you flash, backup, etc. without connecting to a computer.
• ROM -  Custom variant of Android that can be installed instead of the stock version.
• Kernel - Software that communicates from your hardware to your OS. (CPU/GPU calibrations, battery enhancements, etc.)

This is a lot to remember when you're first getting into rooting, but it's all very important. There are multiple methods to root, but if you have a device where it is possible to root using ADB, I recommend that completely. ADB is a simple command-line interface, and while it may not be the easiest to do, it will help you gain an understanding of what you're doing so you know how to fix your device should things go wrong. Use those one-click root options as a last resort, or if you're already aware of how rooting works.

Like I said, I'll get into how to root in a later post, but hopefully this post will help you understand whether you want to root as well as some common terms used.

Basic Android Customization: Launchers, Icon Packs, and Widgets

Have you ever seen a gorgeous looking homescreen and wished that your phone could have the same level of personality? I can't tell you how often I look around and see Android homescreens where all that's been changed is the wallpaper and icon positions. While that may be the majority of customization options on iOS, that is certainly not the case with Android.

First, I'll go over launchers. "Launcher" is a fancy word for homescreen. Every Android device has one, but did you know you can download new ones? Or even have multiple launchers on your device at the same time? Some top launchers include:

• Google Now Launcher (The official launcher from Google. Includes Google Now right on your homescreen.)
• Nova Launcher (Similar to Google Now launcher, meant to give a "stock" feel with lots of customization.)
• Apex Launcher (A competitor to Nova.)
• Action Launcher 3 (Side-menu drawer of all your apps, as well as other nifty features.)

All of these launchers are almost guaranteed to be better than the stock launcher your device comes with. They're usually faster, more stable, with more features and customization. For the sake of this tutorial, I'm going to use Nova Launcher, since that's my daily driver. Download Nova Launcher from the Play Store just as any other app, and once it's downloaded, press your home button. Your device should prompt you asking whether you want to use Nova or the launcher your device came with. Select Nova, and always. 

Once that is done you'll see options to import data from previous launchers. If you don't know what to do here, just skip it. You'll be met with a fresh homescreen that resembles that of Google's newest devices. But it still looks pretty plain, doesn't it? Find the "Nova Settings" app or swipe up from the app drawer button to bring up the launcher's settings. Here you'll find ways to customize it to your heart's content. App grid size, colors, styles, gestures, animations, folders, and more! You can go through this and customize whatever you'd like, but I'm going to move on to icon packs.

Icon packs are just what you'd expect. They change the look and theme of most of your icons. Some top icon packs include:

• Moonshine (Material design themed.)
• Iride UI (Moonshine competitor.)
• Cryten (Flat, pastel colored circles.)
• Click UI (Circular icons using shadows.)
• Stark (Flat square icons.)

Keep in mind many icon packs are paid, which is justified considering the developer has to redesign hundreds of app icons. Once you've downloaded the one you want, go back into Nova. Under Nova Settings, go to Look & Feel. There should be an option for the "Icon theme." Simply select what icon pack you want and go back home. All your apps should be updated.

Finally, I'm going to talk about widgets. Most people I see don't take full advantage of this feature. Again, just because iPhones don't have it, doesn't mean you can't. Head over to the Play Store and search for "Widget." You'll find many helpful widgets that allow you to view information at a glance without opening any apps. Some great widgets include:

• Today (Calendar widget.)
• UCCW (Ultimate custom widget.)
• Zooper (Similar to UCCW.)

This list may look short, but that's because most of the apps you download have widgets bundled along with them. Twitter, Messenger, Google Calendar, Google Now, even Settings has its own widget to toggle options. To get to all the widgets you have, hold down on an empty space on your launcher and select "Widgets." Hold down on one to pick it up, and release it to place it on your homescreen and edit its settings.

Using these three fairly simple customization tools, you can definitely add personality to your device other than just the wallpaper and app positions. So get to customizing!

VPNs: What Are They Good For?

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, allow you to access the Internet from a different server. This might be useful if you're at home, needing to do something from your work's internet. Lately, however, VPNs have been useful for a whole lot more. There are entire companies devoted to selling VPN servers to allow users to access the internet through them. But why would you want to?

First, I'll go over the path your data takes when connected to a typical commercial VPN server. VPNs are the middleman between you and the rest of the Internet. When you send out a message saying "Hey!", instead of being sent directly to whatever messaging service you're using, that request is sent to the VPN. The VPN then passes that "Hey!" on to the messaging server. Likewise, when a message "Hello" is sent back, it's sent from the messaging server, to the VPN server, to you. Most VPNs also offer encryption services as well, so that nobody can read your data except you.

Okay, but why do you need this? Think of it this way. What if the message you sent out said something personal or confidential? What if someone intercepted that message along the way to the messaging server, like the NSA or a hacker? You wouldn't want anyone getting ahold of that information and tracing it back to you. So VPNs let you hide behind them to protect your anonymity. Every computer sends out a specific IP address that can be traced back to you, and it's public to anything you connect to. Every website, program, anything has access to your IP address. But if you send out that message to the VPN first, and then the VPN delivers it, all that website or program gets is the VPN's IP address. Not yours. This also allows you to pretend you're from a different country and get around geographic blocks on certain websites.

The bad news is, VPNs cost money. It costs money to run a server and there are no ads to pay for it. The good news is, they're fairly cheap and easy to set up depending on where you buy your VPN from. I recommend Private Internet Access, where you can get a full year of VPN access for less than $40. You can usually find an even better deal during the holidays. Once you buy it, they're as simple as installing a program and picking the server closest to you. Be careful about cheap or free VPNs that aren't considered trustworthy. All your data is going through them! Pick one with a long history of happy customers, and one that promises to not keep logs of their customers' data.

Once you have a VPN going, no-one can track you. Your data is encrypted and safe from start to finish. You can even use a VPN on your phone! So if you're big on security, spend a bit on a VPN so you'll never have to worry again.

Fragmentation in Android Isn't a Problem

No matter where you look online on the topic of version fragmentation in Android, you'll always get people talking about how it's such a big issue that most Android devices aren't on the latest version. It isn't.

The reason devices in 2015 are still running Gingerbread isn't because of Google's lack of resolve, it's the manufacturer. People have to understand that it isn't Google's job to update phones that they don't create. If people buy a dodgy, $20 phone from Walmart and expect it to be updated consistently, they're delusional. Those who blame Google insist that they should keep a firm grip on their OS upgrades, often times comparing them to Apple's high adoption rates of the newest iOS. There is one key difference here. All iOS devices are owned and manufactured by Apple.

When an upgrade to Android is released by Google, there is many steps it must go through to reach your phone. If your phone has a custom skin over Android such as Samsung's Touchwiz or HTC's Sense, that manufacturer must adapt their skin to work over the new version, as well as bug test. Once it's confirmed to work, if you buy your phone from your carrier, the carrier will distribute the updates instead of the manufacturer. This creates an even bigger delay. (See: Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked.)

In Google's defense, it is trying to get a hold on various parts of the OS so it can upgrade them without going through the manufacturer or carrier. Google is achieving this by separating key elements of Android from the core OS, and making them separate apps that can be updated through the Google Play Store. Examples of this include Google Keyboard and Google Now Launcher.

If you want a phone that is updated consistently, get one that is promised that. Google's own Nexus line is always the first to get the latest and greatest Android versions, because Google makes them. Major flagships from Samsung, HTC, and LG are almost always updated for up to two years. The point is, it isn't Google's problem that manufacturers aren't updating their devices.

Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked

Why is it that Americans are so easily tricked into two year contracts and upgrade plans? When you look around to buy a smartphone, it gets confusing. Two year contract? Upgrade plan? What about data, how much of that do you need? I'm here to tell you that you've been phone shopping all wrong.

Most Americans would go to a major wireless provider like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular to purchase their smartphone. This is sort of weird, isn't it? I mean, you wouldn't buy your car from the company that sells you gas. When you buy a phone from your carrier instead of the manufacturer, most of the time you're going to be taking out a loan from the carrier. That $200 phone isn't actually $200, it's closer to $700, but the carriers make you pay the rest back and more over the course of your contract. Well if you don't buy your phone from your carrier, where do you get it? And where do you get the plan for it?

Try to look for the words "unlocked" and "off-contract" when searching for the phone you want. You can usually either find them on the manufacturer's website, Best Buy, or other online retailers. Once you find that, you're ready to start looking for a plan. While many top carriers sell cheaper plans without the need for a contract, MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) can sell plans much cheaper than the big guys. Now, MVNO may sound like a foreign word, but I'm sure you've heard of them. Companies like Straight Talk, Net10, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and many more are all MVNOs. They use the major carriers' networks such as AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, letting you have the same quality for a fraction of the price. How is this possible? They pay the major carriers to use their cell towers and resell their wireless service for cheaper. This means you can get individual 5GB data plans for less than $50 per month.

As an example I'm going to use Net10 and an unlocked GS6, and compare it with the price of buying the same phone from AT&T (with a 2-year contract) over a two year period. Both plans include unlimited talk and text.

Unlocked Galaxy S6 =                             $649.99

Net10 5GB service =                                $45/mo
Phone and service over two years =        $1729.99

2-year contract Galaxy S6 =                     $129.99
AT&T 5GB service =                                 $90/mo
Phone and service over two years =         $2289.99

There are many other factors to consider, such as upgrade plans, other options from carriers, and how long you're going to use your phone. Net10 does not lock you in any contract, and if you want to cancel, you can. What's better, you own your phone. If you buy a phone from AT&T, they technically own it just like the bank owns a house you have a loan on. Buying no-contract from AT&T isn't a good idea either. In fact, it actually comes out $95 more than the 2-year contract version. MVNOs and unlocked phones are almost always cheaper in the long run. So stop thinking that "free" or $200 phone is actually that price, pay the money for it up front, and stop losing more money than you need to every month!

OnePlus Is a Terrible Company That Exploits Its Customers, yet I Am One

It's no secret by major Android news outlets that OnePlus isn't really approved of by a lot of users. If you're out of the loop, OnePlus is a Chinese OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) founded in late 2013 who promised to bring premium specced smartphones for a budget price. OnePlus first spiked controversy when it was discovered that one of the major shareholders of OnePlus was Oppo, an already established Chinese OEM. This was a problem considering OnePlus was boasting about being a new startup, ready to put a stop to the tyrannical reign of major smartphone companies.

Then, OnePlus announced the One, a gorgeous Android phone with premium specs for less than $400. It also shipped with CyanogenMod 11S, marking CyanogenMod’s entrance into the “legitimate” world of smartphone OS’s. This was a big deal, when you consider at the time the only other major budget smartphones were Google’s Nexus line. Everything looked up for OnePlus, but not for long. 

Problem after problem happened after that. The One was delayed for months, finally being sold, but only if you have an invite. How did you get an invite? Through contests. First began a “Smash the Past” campaign, where people would smash their previous smartphones for a chance to get a $1 One. This was criticized for its wastefulness of perfectly good smartphones which could have instead been donated. Another contest, “Ladies First,” had women users on their forums posting pictures with the OnePlus logo. The few who got the most “likes” won the opportunity to buy the One.

Not long after invites became more available to customers, drama with their software producer Cyanogen came into play. Cyanogen partnered with another smartphone company in India and promised Indians exclusive CyanogenMod use, meaning the One could not be sold there anymore. Long story short, OnePlus won the battle, but their relationship with Cyanogen was forever tarnished. This caused OnePlus to build its own OS, OxygenOS. Like OnePlus itself, on the surface it looked great. Most of the team behind the popular Android ROM Paranoid Android came to create OxygenOS. It sounded promising, but as with what seems like everything OnePlus does, it began to fail. Updates did not come, and when they did, they were minimal. What happened, OnePlus?

 I won’t even get into the failure to launch the promised Styleswap covers, screen issues, lost devices, incredibly slow return time, failure to launch the OnePlus 2 on time, and laughable customer service. All I have to say is, OnePlus is probably one of the worst OEMs I’ve ever come across. The only problem is, they make good phones for cheap. If you can get your hands on an invite, it will be hard to not use it. Even if that means supporting this terrible company.