Oh, HTC. I've written a whole article about HTC's failing revenue and business practices, and with the release of their next flagship, it's time to take another look. In my last post about HTC, I talked about various things that HTC needs to address if they want to stay competitive in the smartphone industry. Now I'm going to see if they did address these issues with the HTC 10.

Firstly, I said HTC should release a phone like the leaked (fake) version of the HTC One M9. What I meant by that wasn't an exact copy of that design, rather just something different. I think HTC has succeeded in this part. I absolutely love the chamfered edges of the HTC 10. The 10 keeps many of the elements that made the One line popular, namely an all-metal unibody, while at the same time changing up the design to look more modern. A definite win for HTC.

Secondly, I urged HTC to create a better skin that doesn't exploit its customers for advertising money. I think, again, they succeeded with the HTC 10. The HTC 10's UI is very minimal, staying fairly close to stock Android. HTC did something I wish all manufacturers would do, (even Google) they worked with Google to remove duplicates of stock apps with the same functionality. For example, we don't want three different web browsers, personal assistants, health apps, etc. all on the same device when we first get it. It wastes space and is confusing to the user. HTC has done a great job at showing restraint with Android, I approve.

Lastly, I asked that HTC release their next flagship for an affordable price. And while we may still see that this year if HTC does indeed make the next Nexus, it's not quite the same as making your flagship affordable. The HTC 10 definitely fails in this department. It's $699, which isn't that bad for a smartphone, but still definitely not affordable. HTC seems to think it can compete with Samsung on an even playing field still, but that isn't true. HTC's reputation has gone down significantly in just a few years, they can't just release their flagship for the same price as Samsung and expect to get as good of sales.

The HTC 10 looks to be one of the best phones of 2016 so far. If nothing else, it is a solid software package in a solid hardware package. Whether that's enough to get HTC back on its feet, only time will tell.

Source: Android Authority, Verge

GSM and CDMA are two different technologies that are competing in the US. AT&T and T-Mobile are the major players using GSM, while Sprint and Verizon are the ones using CDMA.

There is a huge difference in how SIM cards work between CDMA and GSM. With GSM, the subscriber data is stored on the SIM card. This means you can pop it into any phone with a SIM card slot and it'll just work without needing to even contact your carrier. With CDMA, subscriber data is stored with the carrier. This means to switch a phone over to a different CDMA carrier you'll need for both carriers to work together in swapping over your data, or to use a different phone with the carrier you need to go through them and have them pre-approve it. The reason CDMA carriers use SIM cards at all is because they were forced to adopt it when 4G became a big thing.. It is not even close to what SIM cards do with typical GSM carriers. What's the problem? Well, the majority of the world uses GSM as a global standard and a lot of phones are not built CDMA compatible because the USA is one of the weird cases where CDMA is popular. It's a lot easier for an OEM to build a GSM-compatible phone and just let the user swap a SIM card in and have it work. This is why you normally don't see OEM's selling two unlocked versions of their phones, CDMA and GSM versions. Because CDMA carriers need to allow and support unlocked phones, while GSM carriers can just hand out a SIM card. Recently there have been unlocked phones released for CDMA thanks to popular demand, but to get an unlocked phone working on a CDMA network you still have to get it activated with the carrier instead of just swapping a SIM card. Besides, most of the world uses GSM anyway.

Image source: PC Mag

Google, in a move nobody was expecting, decided to release the full Android N developer preview to the masses today. I'm currently downloading it on my Nexus 6P, (because I'm a rebel like that) so while that's happening, let's talk about the various changes that Google has introduced to Android today.

First off, the most interesting thing about Google's changes today isn't even to Android itself. Along with the release of the dev preview, Google has launched the Android Beta Program. This allows anyone with a compatible Nexus device enroll in over-the-air beta updates. This is a huge change compared to what they did with Android M. With M, if you wanted to participate in the developer previews, you had to manually flash them. Most people do not know how to flash system images, so this put up a large wall for user feedback. I can't say whether Google choosing to make this process easier will be beneficial or not. On one hand, you have more people becoming engaged in the future of Android. On the other, you have a lot of people who don't know what they're doing installing the beta and complaining about bugs.

On to the features! Android N has added various improvements that keep it competitive with Apple. Usually, I'd say Apple is playing catch-up with Android, but Android N does this to iOS in many ways. First of all, it finally adds multi-window support, something that Google is hoping to expand their tablet market. It's been a long time coming. Second, the addition of a f.lux-like screen tinter is also something iOS has added recently. That's about where the similarities stop, though. Back from the early Android M builds is the dark theme, which turns various UI elements dark instead of white. The notification shade and quick settings have also been restyled to a more modern look, taking up 100% of the width of the screen. Speaking of notifications, Google has added an official API for text input within notifications. Think of quick-reply being fully supported in the OS.

There are also tons of new features being discovered right now, as the preview was only released a few hours ago. I sure can't wait to go explore them! Looks like my apps are being optimized, gotta go!

Android is famous for being customizable. When you think of iOS, you think of a grid of icons as your home screen. That isn't true for Android. Android flaunts a more desktop-esque layout for its home screen, and a major part of that is the app drawer. The app drawer holds all the apps that you don't want on your home screen. Lately there has been some rumors of Google getting rid of the app drawer in Android N, and there is more and more evidence to support it every day. Also, manufacturers like LG have already chosen to get rid of the app drawer in the LG G5. But... Why?

Run Forrest Run! Or walk, or drive, or bike. #MapsAtTheMovies https://t.co/GocsZtDx9Lhttps://t.co/4iOFYbDkl0

— Google Maps (@googlemaps) February 26, 2016

The above tweet is the major cause for us to believe that the next version of Android will not have an app drawer, but Android Authority reports that multiple inside sources have informed them that Android N currently does not have one.

So why? Well, many think it's for a more "simplistic" approach in order to make it easier for users, but personally, I think it does nothing but crowd the home screen. Others are wondering if Google is planning on replacing the app drawer with a search bar to find your apps. Either way, I'll stick with my app drawer. The app drawer is the "overflow" of information that you don't need right on your home screen. But the good thing is, even if Google does choose to get rid of it, there are always custom launchers like Nova to take its place. That's what makes Android great.

Image source: Droid Life

When I think of mobile games, I think big companies spending a lot of money to get people like Arnold Schwarzenegger to narrate over CGI explosions. Maybe the occasional arcade game fad like Flappy Bird or Angry Birds. What I usually don't think of is quality gameplay and mechanics, but there are games who break the mold and achieve this regardless.

First, I'll have to talk about Monument Valley. What Makes Monument Valley different is its game-changing puzzle mechanics. The app is paid with paid DLCs, but that's a small price to pay for an app that is this amazing. You can also get it for free on Amazon's Underground app store. The game combines a beautiful geometric aesthetic with physics-defying gameplay. The goal is simply to get from the beginning to the end while moving the environment. Seems simple enough, but simple is what makes a good mobile game. Each level is well thought out and just the right amount of challenging. It's great to play when you have down-time, or just binge it all in one go.

You know when I gave Angry Birds as an example of a fad in the first paragraph of this post? Well, the studio that made Angry Birds, Rovio, made a game that doesn't rely on Angry Birds branding to succeed for once. The game is called Retry, and I think it is a great example of how to make a game that strikes the perfect balance between user experience and profit. The game is fairly simple, you pilot a plane through various levels, collecting coins and other things along the way. I think the best part of this game is how it is monetized. Lots of mobile games basically rely on micro-transactions to win. Pay-to-win is common among mobile games. While Retry has micro-transactions to get more coins and gears, you don't need them to succeed. Coins are used to unlock checkpoints, but even if you don't have any coins to unlock a checkpoint, you can watch a simple 30-second ad or grab some coins from another level. I think this is a very non-obtrusive way for a game to make money.

How can I make a post on games without talking about Neko Atsume? Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector is a game that's gained widespread popularity, and the weirdest part? Nobody knows why. I don't even know why I keep coming back to it. The game is simple, you put items down in your yard for cats to come and play with, and they leave you fish to buy more things. The game is laid-back, which I think is important in a mobile game. Sometimes it's nice to just check and see how your cats are doing. Maybe snap a picture of a cute cat. The game is slow, but rewarding. Games like this where you have to wait and do little things throughout the day are another great way to utilize the mobile platform.

So what is it that makes a good mobile game? Simplicity, elegance, mobility, and originality. There are too many games that are all the same lately. Luckily, we have games like the ones I've listed above trying to break the mold. I don't need a 50th Candy Crush or Angry Birds. I don't want a war game that exploits women. I'll stick with my beautiful art styles, airplanes, and cats.

Today, two major companies in the Android smartphone market revealed their flagship devices which will stand as the company's mark on the industry for the next year. I talked about the LG G5's odd rumored changes in a previous post, but now it's official. Both devices have added "always-on" displays, which I think is a fairly nifty feature, but I can't say it's as game changing as I originally thought. I'd be interested to see some battery statistics about it.

I'll be honest, I think the LG G5 may have focused too heavily on being different and not enough on what people actually want. Sure, its new "modular" slot on the bottom is different and allows for some cool accessories, but the amount of people that will actually use it I think is minimal. There is also a dual-camera design to snap wider-angle pictures, and while that's cool, I'd rather just have a solid camera. Plus, I'm not a fan of its new design. A lot of people are comparing it to a Nexus 6P in terms of design, and I don't think that could be any more wrong. When you look at the 6P, you just see premium. You see the diamond-cut edges and the quality metal. But with the LG G5, it's so smoothed that it doesn't look premium at all. Along with this, the color choices are very odd as there's only lighter color options except for an odd grey-ish one. On the software side, LG has taken a step in the wrong direction. They chose to remove the app drawer in their default launcher because it can "confuse users", which I think it a very odd thing to do. Thinking about it more and more, the LG G5 almost seems like a copy of what many Chinese manufacturers are doing. No app drawer, smoothed surface with odd features. Is it a bad phone? No. I'm sure it's great. But I think LG has shifted their focus on being "different" instead of being good.

There's not too much to talk about with the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. In terms of design changes, the only major difference is a slight curve in the back. Besides that, they've added better specs for both devices and they've both been waterproofed. I think the S7 is a solid upgrade to last year, but if you already have the S6, there is absolutely no use upgrading. The devices are so similar I just can't see a point in getting the S7 over the S6.

Sources: The Verge

In recent years, there has been a trend for smartphone manufacturers to create smartphones with decent, or amazing specs at an affordable price. The logic behind this is that if they create a smartphone that can compete with the top flagships for a cheaper price, they'll gain more marketshare and more loyal users. If they can mass produce affordable smartphones, the profit margin won't matter as much.

Under $200 - Moto G (2015)

While it's unclear whether Motorola will continue to offer low cost smartphones like the Moto G, what is certain is that the current 3rd gen model is the best smartphone you can get below $200. It offers an updated near-stock experience, a 5-inch display, and a 13 megapixel camera in an affordable package. It isn't the most flashy or best specced smartphone out there, but it's about as good as you'll get for under $200. The Moto G starts at $179.99 unlocked.

Under $300 - OnePlus X

I do have my problems with OnePlus as a company and their inability to provide consistent software experience and customer service, but I can't overlook the OnePlus X in the under $300 category. In a package strikingly similar to the iPhone 4 days, it provides an updated Android experience. Its camera and display are fairly similar to the Moto G, but its specs outpace it. With 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 801 processor, this device won't be lagging behind any time soon. And while Oxygen OS isn't stock Android, it's pretty darn close. It adds some nifty new features such as accent colors, but I wouldn't count on consistent updates. The OnePlus X starts at $249.99 unlocked.

Under $400 - LG Nexus 5X & Moto X Pure Edition

LG Nexus 5X

The successor to the wildly popular Nexus 5 is here in the form of the Nexus 5X. The design is cost effective while at the same time keeping a premium feel. The 5X is also the first device on this list to include a fingerprint sensor, which is in fact the same as the one in the Huawei Nexus 6P. Speaking of similarities with the 6P, the 5X's camera is the same as well. The only difference is that the 5X cannot shoot 4K video due to hardware limitations. Regardless, the 5X has one of the best cameras on this list. Because this is a Nexus, you're getting the stock Android experience as Google intended, as well as receiving constant updates. The LG Nexus 5X starts at $349.00 unlocked.

Moto X Pure Edition

The Moto X Pure Edition's praise comes from a variety of things.While it doesn't have a fingerprint sensor, the Moto X Pure Edition's screen outpaces other smartphones in this class. Its QHD screen combined with a 21 megapixel camera makes for some really sharp photos. Besides this, the Moto X Pure Edition also has something completely different from anything else on this list. (Besides the Moto G.) Moto Maker. This allows for nearly limitless customization of your phone. You can choose the color of different parts of your phone, different materials, and even engravings. The Moto X Pure Edition starts at $399.99 unlocked.

Above $400 - Huawei Nexus 6P

If you know this blog, you know this was going to be here. While I wouldn't call this phone "low budget", it certainly is cheap for what it is. This phone rivals every other flagship smartphone out there for about half the price. You can read my full review of the Nexus 6P by clicking here, but for the sake of this post, I'll keep it short and sweet. The Nexus 6P has no major faults. It's all-around great in every sense of the word. Amazing metal build, top-of-the-line Samsung AMOLED QHD display, fingerprint sensor, award winning camera, and pure stock Nexus experience. The fact that all of this can fit in a package that's merely $499.00 is a feat. 

Amazon has been making various gadgets for years now. Kindles being the most popular. When Amazon released the Kindle Fire, it was meant as not only an e-reader, but a cheaper competitor for the tablet market. Unfortunately, Amazon is viewing this business all wrong. Instead of capitalizing on the e-reader market they're trying to branch out into the tablet and smartphone industry. This is a bad move considering they can't compete.

Amazon's smart devices run Fire OS, a fork of AOSP or Android. Fire OS doesn't include the Google Play Store or any Google services at all. Amazon has completely taken their fork in a different direction away from Google. While this isn't terrible, it certainly means the devices will lose a lot of features that Google already has in place with Android.

Now it's time to talk about one of the biggest flops in tech history. The Amazon Fire Phone. When it was released, it could be considered a mid-range phone. What made it "special" was its 3D software which used sensors to make the interface appear 3D. It was pretty gimmicky and honestly, nobody wanted the feature. For a mid-range phone from a company new to the smartphone game, you would expect a cheaper price, right? Well, apparently Amazon overestimated itself. When the phone was released, it was for an off-contract price of $650 and an on-contract price of $199. That was as much as a new Samsung Galaxy or iPhone. Needless to say, nobody was getting this phone. Sales plummeted, resulting in an over $200 price drop for both models. Even still, Amazon practically had to give these things away with free Amazon Prime memberships included. Amazon finally ran out of stock in 2015 and it doesn't look like they plan to release another phone anytime soon.

Just because their phone strategy failed, doesn't mean Amazon's done. Amazon has been hard at work making worse versions of already existing products. Amazon Fire Stick, for example, is basically a copy of Google's Chromecast. Even better? Amazon banned the sale of Chromecasts on their website because it would be "confusing for customers" to have both products for sale. Amazon Echo is an ambitious product, for sure, but like the Fire Phone, I don't see any reason for anyone to get it. Echo is basically a large speaker with microphones in it, allowing you to ask it questions and it will respond. Sounds cool when you forget that almost all smartphones have this feature. Plus, for $179, I would expect something better.

All-in-all, Amazon needs to calm down about its gadget production and focus on its market and website. I realise that Amazon has to continue to evolve to make it, but the paths it's taking aren't going to get it anywhere.

Google introduced its design language, dubbed Material, in 2014 as a proposed solution to make its OS distinctive and replace the outdated Holo design language. The goal of Holo was to standardize the designs used across different versions of Android and make Android more uniform. Holo was a mostly dark look, with electric blue accents. While many loved Holo for what it was, it was definitely time Google stepped up its game in terms of design to keep up with Apple. In comes Material.

Material (left) vs Holo (right) settings apps

Material Design was code-named "Quantum Paper" by Google before it was announced, and this is a good description. It was announced at Google I/O 2014 along with Android L, later known as Android 5.0 Lollipop. Distinctive features of Material Design is a lighter interface with distinctive, vibrant colors and a huge focus on animations. Pre-Material, Android was pretty static in terms of animations. Sure, you had some simple ones across the operating system, but the ones that were there were pretty unimpressive. Material's major focus is providing context through animation, and adding depth to the interface. If you press a button, instead of a screen suddenly appearing, the screen should grow from the button. This provides an understanding of what event is triggering what, and frankly, an amazing example of great design. Depth is used by making subtle shadows underneath certain elements. This allows items to be on top of each other and still look great. FABs, or Floating Action Buttons, are another common theme among Material apps. They provide a place for the user to interact without requiring the developer to allocate space in an otherwise unneeded place in the app. The FAB gets out of the way when it isn't needed, and can display new options when tapped.

Good examples of Material Design are those that use the design language to create apps that follow the rules set across by Google, while also injecting a bit of originality and brand recognition. The best example of this I can think of is with the Tumblr app. It isn't a Google app, but it follows Material Design extremely well. It's not perfect, but it uses cards, distinctive animations, and depth to create an app that feels material, while also feeling like it's still Tumblr. Basically any app by Google has amazing Material Design as well.

A bad example of Material is Sleep as Android. It's a great app, don't get me wrong, but its adoption of material was half-assed, for lack of a better word. It doesn't do many of the things that Material apps should do. It feels like it's trying to give its users the impression of it being Material without putting in any of the work. It has a FAB, but its placement is off and tapping it is not animated. Actually, almost nothing in this app is animated better than the Holo days. The toggle switches aren't even animated! The UI is a weird combination of half-baked Material over a Holo base.

Material isn't just needed to make apps look better, it's needed to make Android look better. If apps do not follow this design language it fragments Android and makes it confusing to the user. Imagine if every app you open had a completely different layout and style. Different stylistic choices are great, but if you're making a modern Android app, please use Material in the way it's intended instead of half-assing it.

When I first saw the initial leaks of the Nexus 6P, I was unimpressed and almost entirely set on getting the 5X as my next device. That was true, at least, until Google announced the prices and specs of these phones. The Nexus 6P is a much better bang for your buck, and I'd consider it the best possible smartphone on the market right now.

The fingerprint sensor, called Nexus Imprint, is insanely fast and accurate. Having it on the back may be an interesting change for people who are used to having it on the home button like Apple and Samsung, but personally, I like it on the back better. My finger naturally reaches it when I pick it out of my pocket and a lot of the time it's already unlocked when I bring it up to my face. To unlock from a tap of the fingerprint sensor, it takes just around one second. I timed it. When it is unlocked it directly goes past the lock screen, which is really handy.

The front facing speakers are another high point I thought I'd never use. I'm really used to using headphones all the time, but a few days ago I sure was glad I had these speakers when my friends asked someone to play some music and I knew my phone could produce the best and loudest sound.

The camera may not have the most megapixels, having a modest 12.3. But it does definitely get the job done by having a much larger pixel than other phones. When the pixels the camera takes are larger, this means it can let more light in. The result is better low-light pictures and all pictures are more vibrant. This is the best phone camera I've ever owned.

...

The metal body feels incredibly premium. I have absolutely no complaints there. I chose to get the graphite model, and my only complaint about it is that the black sort of hides the diamond cut edges of it. In pictures, the aluminium model looks much nicer there. The reason I chose to get the graphite version instead of any other color is because I thought it would look better with a dbrand skin. I feel like a skin or case is required with this phone, because the metal is fairly thin and dents easily. That combined with the slippery surface makes for a bad combination for drops. 

The battery definitely gets the job done. Whether it's better or worse than my OnePlus One which was famous for its great battery life, I cannot say. It definitely gets me through the day with at least 4 hours of screen-on time. I've only had one issue with the battery life, and that was caused by a Google Play services bug which caused it to keep my device awake. Weird, but not unheard of. A reinstallation of Play services fixed the issue. Marshmallow's Doze and App Standby features can result in completely flat lines of battery usage over hours of non-use. 

I don't know whether it's Marshmallow, the phone, or a combination of the two, but the 6P is incredibly fast and smooth. I've never used a phone this fast before. Marshmallow's added animation refines what Lollipop set out to do and makes the experience much smoother. When I first got the phone I ran a quick AnTuTu benchmark, with the 6P earning 70924. While that isn't the best ranking around, it sure stacks up to the competition.

I'm incredibly happy with this phone, and I have to say, the fact that it's a Nexus is the best thing about it. I didn't get Nexus Protect, but the ability to have your phone protected for 2 accidental drops is incredibly comforting for those who do. One week after I purchased my 6P, the price dropped $50 on the Google Store. I wasn't worried, because I knew Google Nexus had a famous reputation for keeping their customers happy. From giving price change refunds to repairing Nexus 5 screens for free, Nexus has had a long history of great customer service. Sure enough, one five minute online chat with customer support resulted in $50 being refunded. I didn't have to do anything except message them. They even wished me a merry Christmas! If only every company could be this good to their customers.

Overall, I give the Huawei Nexus 6P a 10/10. There isn't much wrong with this phone. Newest possible clean software, well sufficient specifications, nifty features such as the fingerprint sensor, and the Nexus brand makes this a phone anyone would love to have. It's a pleasant experience for both the techie and the common buyer. If you're looking for a new phone, definitely consider the Nexus 6P, which is now $50 off on the Google Store!

Buy

That's right. Today I purchased the Huawei Nexus 6P for just over $500. (If this price seems odd to you, you should probably read my "Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked" post.) This is going to be replacing my OnePlus One, and seeing how competitive that phone was in the "last generation" of flagship smartphones, I'm going to be comparing it to the Nexus 6P in terms of features and specifications. The OnePlus One should serve as an example for the last generation of smartphones compared to the best of today. You should also be expecting a full review of the Nexus 6P as early as next week.

Comment from discussion [MKBHD] Pictures taken from the Nexus 6P.

First, the Nexus 6P has an amazing latest-gen Samsung Quad HD AMOLED display. If that's a lot of gibberish to you, let me explain. Samsung makes some of the best displays in the smartphone industry. Amazing colors, high DPI, the best technology. Quad HD (1440p) is 33%  higher resolution than the common 1080p found on the OnePlus One. OnePlus's 1080p display is also IPS LCD, which is generally considered worse than AMOLED. What makes AMOLED special is the fact that blacks are as pure as they can be. When a pixel is black on an AMOLED display, it is actually turned completely off. This makes for rich blacks and also saves battery.

The Nexus 6P's camera has been, surprisingly, heavily acclaimed by pretty much everyone. This is a huge change from the previous camera-related infamy of the Nexus brand. In fact, the camera is so good, it has climbed to the #3 ranked smartphone camera on dxomark.com. While it only has 12.3 megapixels, those pixels are considerably larger than most smartphone cameras.

The larger the pixels are, the more light is collected. This allows for better pictures all around. The 6P has been praised for its amazing low light performance, likely thanks to those large pixels. So while the 6P may not have the most megapixels, it sure takes some amazing pictures. It also has laser autofocus, which makes for quick and accurate focusing on objects. The OnePlus One, on the other hand, lacks this. It also has much worse low light performance.

The OnePlus One's build quality was praised for feeling good in the hand at a low price. Unfortunately, this just doesn't match up to the all metal build of the Nexus 6P. The OnePlus One had a new material called sandstone black, which had a unique texture to it. Problem was, it wore off fast and attracted lots of dirt. Not only that, but the "metal" edges around the One aren't even real metal. They're painted plastic. Talk about a let down. I've chipped mine from dropping it in one corner, revealing the very un-premium material underneath. The Nexus 6P has an all metal unibody, making it feel much more premium than anything else.

Source

Time to move on to things the 6P has that the One simply lacks. A fingerprint sensor, for one, is a major selling point to me. We unlock our phones dozens if not hundreds of times per day, I think it is a good investment to save that portion of your time from entering in passcodes. Not only does it have one, it's apparently ridiculously fast. (I'll confirm this when I test it.) The 6P also comes equipped with a USB-C port, which is considered to be the new standard in ports. It's also fast charging compatible, meaning you can get it from 0 to 100% in a flash.

Last but certainly not least, is the simple fact that this is a Nexus. You already know my disdain for OnePlus if you've read my first post, but if you don't want to read it, let me summarize it for you: It's just a bad company. They've been making terrible decisions since their inception. Nexus is a trusted brand owned by Google that delivers software updates as soon as they're available. OnePlus is a brand with infamous customer service and extremely slow and fragmented software updates. The choice here is simple. The Nexus 6P will be an amazing upgrade for me, and I can't wait to get my hands on it and review it here.

Unsourced images are from Google's official press event or the Nexus website.

So you're looking to buy a new device. That's awesome and exciting! The problem is a lot of people don't know what to look for. If you don't want to get stuck with a device that disappoints you, or one that you regret buying, keep reading.

The first major point you want to consider when buying a new device is the software. I know, you probably don't think about this as much as the branding but it's important. Whether you want iOS or Android, and which skin inside of Android you prefer. Each manufacturer has a different skin they apply over Android. Samsung has Touchwiz, HTC has Sense, and LG has its own UI. Personally, I'd consider any skin worse than stock Android which can usually only be found on Google Nexus devices and kind of on Motorola flagships. Check out the latest versions of the software you're looking at and see how they compare to stock.

Second, check out how well that software runs on the hardware. How fast is it, is it prone to hiccups, etc. Also, make sure your manufacturer is known to give prompt updates. When the next version of the OS comes out, make sure they are known to give your phone the update quickly and efficiently. Obviously the best brands for this would be Apple and Google's Nexus, as both of them directly make the software.

Last but not least, check out the design, size, and feel of the phone. Also check out any features they may have that distinguishes them from other devices. Fingerprint scanner? How nice is the screen? What about the materials it's made of? These can all play major factors in how much you'll like the device you're getting. Price also revolves around this, so make sure it's within your price range and see how much price matters to you. (See: Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked)

You'll see a lot of people worry about the specs of the phone such as the RAM and CPU. And while these are important, most major flagships now-a-days already have good enough specs that it doesn't matter the majority of the time. Consider these things last. After you've considered all of the things above, you should be able to see what device would be the best option for you.

Image Source: Gadarena

Lots of people use phone cases, and I mean a lot. Most of the smartphones you see around have some form of protection on them. Honestly though, that makes me kind of sad. When phone manufacturers spend months and years working on a design that looks amazing and it functional, slapping a case over it is kind of insulting to those manufacturers. Case manufacturers spend maybe a week at most trying to fit a case over the phone, but they don't dilly dally about the design. They just make sure it works and that it isn't totally ugly. I want my phone to feel how it is meant to. I don't want to add extra thickness just because I'm afraid I might drop it some day. I'd rather enjoy my phone, not play on the safe side and deal with an ugly, rubber case every day.

The number one reason people buy cases is because they feel like it'll protect the phone. And while this may be true in some aspects, I believe the negatives outweigh the positives. Unless you're getting one of those giant Otterbox cases, your phone is going to get damaged when you drop it whether you have a case on it or not. There are more subtle things you can do to protect your phone without ruining the intended design, such as getting a skin or a tempered glass screen protector.

Skins add virtually no thickness while protecting your premium phone from scratches, some dents, as well as adding grip to help prevent you from dropping it. Best of all, there's tons of different options. Skins are more of an extension of your style rather than something you deal with because you want protection. I recommend dbrand (pictured above) for their awesome build quality, customization, and spot-on dimensions.

If you don't want a skin, almost everyone has a screen protector of some sort, right? I can't deny the usefulness of screen protectors, but stop wasting your money on the cheap plastic ones that ruin the feel of the phone and the quality of the screen! Tempered glass screen protectors are basically an extension of your phone screen, feeling even better than your screen. Good ones have oleophobic coatings, meaning they resist fingerprints and oil. The glass they use is extremely hard, hitting 9H on Moh's scale of hardness. Most people won't even notice you have a screen protector on, but it protects your screen even better than plastic ones. Many claim they can even help protect your screen when it is dropped, because the screen protector will break first and displace some of the energy, protecting your screen.

So in conclusion, get rid of that ugly rubber case and plastic screen protector. Stop insulting your phone manufacturer who spent months working on that design only for you to slap some rubber over it. Instead, start using awesomely designed skins and precise tempered glass screen protectors to enhance your phone's design instead of degrade it.

Image source: Amazon, dbrand

HTC's sales have taken a nosedive, and for good reason. HTC revolutionized what we can call a premium smartphone with the introduction of the all-metal HTC One M7 back in 2013. Unfortunately since then HTC has done everything but revolutionize. "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." is HTC's motto. The HTC One M8 and M9 have both been mild upgrades, with similar designs. Before the M9's release, leaked renders showed an amazing design upgrade. Everyone, myself included, was excited for this. Unfortunately it was dead wrong, the M9 ending up barely different aesthetically to the M8. I believe their lack of sales are due to an unwillingness to adapt to the changing smartphone market, similar to BlackBerry back in the day.

Leaked HTC One M9 renders which were dead wrong.

When HTC does choose to make some changes, they aren't good ones. HTC's flagships have been criticized for using experimental "ultrapixel" technology, which in the end delivered worse photos than traditional counterparts. Sense, HTC's skin over Android, has been updated with BlinkFeed, a sorry excuse for a news source plastered over your home screen. BlinkFeed even includes advertisements, which is ridiculous. What other trustworthy smartphone manufacturer has advertisements enabled by default on the homescreen?

The real HTC One M9.

Ultimately, HTC has to release something like the leaked M9 to gain back any footing in the smartphone industry that they've lost. They need to create a better interface which doesn't revolve around exploiting their customers for advertising, or better yet, adopt a stock-like feel like what Motorola has done. If HTC is really serious about gaining traction, they'll release a phone like this for a competitive price around the cost of a Huawei Nexus 6P. ($499) Otherwise, I just can't see HTC climbing its way back to the top.

Sources: Ars Technica, HTC

Android Marshmallow began rolling out yesterday to select Nexus devices, and while most devices won't be getting it right away, if you're an avid Android user it's bound to end up in your hands someday. Consider Android 6.0 a polished Lollipop. It doesn't have any drastic changes to the interface, but it polishes it and adds much needed features.

6. Smarter expandable storage.
SD cards to expand the storage on your device are perfect if you have the chance to use them. Unfortunately, Android handled external and internal storage differently. There was confusion of moving apps to and from external and internal storage, making it extremely difficult to use correctly. Marshmallow introduces Flex Storage, which basically allows your expandable storage to do what it should. Expand on internal storage. It acts just as if you would tack on a few extra gigabytes to your device's storage.

5. App backup and restore.
Lollipop had some great improvements to allow you to pick up a new device and re-download your apps automatically from the last one. Marshmallow takes things a step farther. Android 6.0 automatically backs up your apps as well as their data, and allows you to restore them across devices or ROMs. This means that your high score on your favorite game will be saved, as well as your login details for Twitter.

4. Fingerprint and USB-C support.
Following in the steps of Apple and Samsung, Google has finally embraced the use of fingerprint sensors officially in Android. With this, this opens up fingerprint technology to many manufacturers who don't have the resources to develop their own fingerprint software. Along with this, Google added USB-C support, meaning USB-C cables can now be used officially in Android. USB-C cables are reversible, with much faster connection and charging rates.

3. Permissions overhaul.
Android permissions have had problems since their conception. Why should this calculator app need access to my contacts and camera? Google hopes to address this issue in Android 6.0. Marshmallow lets you edit permissions individually for apps without breaking the whole thing. And until an app explicitly asks to use some permissions—like the camera—through a pop-up, the app will not have access to it. Say goodbye to the days of confusing app permissions!

2. Battery improvements.
Doze and App Standby aim to greatly increase battery life. Doze mode senses when you aren't using your device through a combination of sensors and automatically puts your apps into a deep sleep. You don't miss out on notifications, but this drastically increases standby battery life. App Standby is a per-app setting comparable to the Greenify app. This causes apps that you haven't used in days to automatically be hibernated unless something important wakes them up, or you launch them. If you haven't used Facebook in a week, it probably shouldn't be eating up your battery in the background.

1. Now on Tap.
Just when we thought Google's takeover of Android was slowing down, here we see it escalating. Google Now on Tap allows Google's famous search assistant to read over whatever is on your screen and give you relevant information. So if you get a text asking you if you want to meet at Olive Garden, you can hold your home button and Google will give you reviews, opening times, locations, and more about the nearest Olive Garden to you. Other improvements to Google Now allow other apps to tap into Google voice search and ask follow-up questions. For example, I could say "Ok Google, listen to Spotify." and Google would respond with, "Alright. What would you like to listen to?" assuming Spotify has support for this.

Google has really decided to up its game with useful and original upgrades to Lollipop without drastically changing the experience. I consider Android 6.0 one of the best upgrades Android has had in awhile.

Image source: Android

We all know of those people who say iPhones suck, or that Android sucks and iPhones are way better in every way. This isn't true at all. Neither sides paint the full picture. To understand both sides of the argument, you have to understand the pros and cons of both sides as well as what both sides' goals are.

Apple and Google have completely different methods of obtaining profit. Apple is primarily a hardware company, meaning they obtain their profit from selling iPhones, Macs, etc. On the other side of the coin, Google is primarily a software and advertising company. They make their money from the most possible people using their software, collecting data, and selling advertisements. What does this have to do with iOS v. Android? Well, many of the arguments against Apple is that iOS is such a closed system and they never release any of their apps for Android. Reason being, they want people to buy their products for their OS. If they released iMessage for Android, they would lose a lot of money due to people no-longer buying their hardware to use it. Google, on the other hand, releases almost all their apps for iOS and Android because they want people using their software to sell ads. Both companies have different business models, so it's unfair to dock either side for what they choose to do in that department.

Customization is also a major talking point, but again, both companies have different audiences. Apple focuses on the common user, making iOS less customizable, but at the same time easier to use. Android tries to strike more of a balance between customization and simplicity, but ends up missing the common user at some points.

Being locked inside a certain ecosystem can cause users to refuse to change sides. For example, iOS users use iMessage, iCloud, iTunes, etc. and there is no way they're going to just abandon all that to try something new because some random person on the Internet told them to. Android users are ingrained in Google's ecosystem as well. Neither side is going to get the other side to change their opinion if they're already ingrained in the OS.

So next time you see an iOS user that refuses to acknowledge Android as a legitimate option, or vise-versa, remember that you probably aren't going to change their mind and it's just a waste of time to argue with them. iOS and Android both have their respective audiences and goals, so who cares what anyone else uses as long as you can still use your preferred option?

Image source: ThinkApps

If you're a root user, Tasker is definitely one of the apps you should be taking advantage of. Tasker is an app that in simple terms, tells your phone to automate certain things. This is extremely useful with infinite possibilities. Currently, I have Tasker profiles to turn my notifications off if my phone is in proximity to school WiFi, make notifications priority mode when my phone is face-down, turn auto-rotate on when in certain apps like YouTube or Gallery, auto-connect my VPN, and more.

Tasker is currently $2.99 on the Play Store, but it's quite a deal for what it does.

So you can see why Tasker is such a big deal for a phone of mine. It's gotten to the point where I'd consider it one of the best reasons to root your device. With Tasker, you can tell your device if "this" happens, then do "that."

I'm going to explain how to make your device silent when in proximity to a certain WiFi network. Once you open Tasker, hit the + button on the bottom-right corner. Select "State" > "Net" > "WiFi Near." You should be met with a screen to edit this state. This is the "this" action, meaning that Tasker is waiting for this to happen before it preforms the next action. In the text field called SSID, put the exact name of the WiFi network you wish to be silent around. If you want to put multiple WiFi networks, separate them with a forward-slash. ("School WiFi/Work WiFi") Once you're done with that, hit the back button. A screen should pop up with a "New Task" option. The task is the "that" action, meaning once "this" happens, the task will happen. Tap New Task, then name it "Mute." Click the + on the bottom, go to "Audio" > "Notification Volume" and set the level to zero. Go back, and do the same for alarm volume or media volume if you wish. Finally, if you're on Android 5.0 or above, add "Interrupt Mode" and change it to either "None" or "Priority" depending on how many notifications you want to get through. If you're on Lollipop you should be familiar with these settings. Lastly, go back to the profiles screen and hold down on the profile you made. Press the settings icon at the top and make sure the "Restore Settings" option is checked. This causes the changes you've made through the task to be reversed if you are no longer near that WiFi.

And you're done! Now that you've made one Tasker profile, it should be fairly easy to create more. Explore all the options for profiles and tasks and think about some things you do every day that could be automated. It takes a bit to set up and understand how to use it, but in the end it saves a lot of time and hassle.

Google

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.

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.

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!