Category: Android

I have been writing reviews of mobile devices and technology since 1999. In that time, I’ve reviewed well over 100 mobile devices of all shapes and forms, starting with the H/PCs of days gone by to the current crop of Windows Phone and Android devices. To say I don’t get excited about phones much any more is an understatement.

Then came along the OnePlus One. It’s a phone that has been out there for nearly a year now and while it had a fitful start in life (a somewhat botched invitation system to buy them), they are now readily available. Frankly, I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed a phone as much as I have enjoyed this… One.  Spec wise it is top-notch with a powerful processor, huge amounts of RAM and on-board storage, an all day power user battery, a stunningly good camera (front and back) and a display that is easy on the eyes. It has everything that you would expect in a flagship device from any manufacture but at a budget friendly mid-market price of $299 for the 16GB model.  Beyond the specifications however, the OnePlus One is a joy to use.  It has a solid Android Lollipop build with powerful features and functionality built in that allows you as a user to customize it the way that works best for you.

The OnePlus One is without a doubt one of the best phones I’ve ever reviewed.  It is not perfect but it is close.  Real close.

If you are on T-Mobile here in the US and carry the Sony Z3, you are about to have a good Wednesday. Starting today the carrier is rolling out Lollipop to the device and with the update will also come support for LTE Band 12.  The news came via Twitter thanks to T-Mobile’s Des Smith who tweeted the update would be coming via an OTA (Over The Air) update to the device.

Software Update: @TMobile #Z3 – #Lollipop + Band 12 support! Should start after Midnight Pacific ✌Des pic.twitter.com/766pvQpKsq

— Des (@askdes) June 2, 2015

It’s good news for sure as the Sony Z3 has been a popular device globally and one that is more than capable of running the latest version of Android.

I’m a big fan of Chipotle and their app is one of the better food/restaurant apps out there. It makes ordering your favorite burrito from your local store where you can pick it up to enjoy at work or at home. Now it just got a little bit better. With the update that is now in the Play Store, version 2.2.0 for those keeping score at home, the Chipotle app will now let you pay for your food with your Google Wallet.

OnePlus has made a lot of waves – some good and some not-so good – with their first phone, the “Flagship killer” OnePlus One.  For the price of $299 for the 16GB and $349 for the 64GB, they were already a good deal considering the specs of the device.  Now throughout this week at various times you can pick one up for $50 off.  I have been using a OnePlus One now for about a week and I will say it may be one of the best phones I’ve ever used in my 17 years of tech writing and reviewing.  Yeah, it’s that good.

If you have followed my site for the last few weeks you will have noticed a lot more Android updates.  It’s partly because I have to use an Android device for my day job but also it is good to expand horizons.  I’ve never been a big fan of Android.  I don’t really like the UI although it is certainly better than the last time I really tried to use one, circa Ice Cream Sandwich.  But it’s still not may favorite.  That’s Windows Phone.  I love the personal experience of Windows Phone that despite Google’s best efforts – and Apple’s with iOS for that matter – just can’t replicate well.

One factor about Windows Phone that I and many other sites and users have moaned about however is the upgrade process.  While an update may be available, it could take months or never for that update to hit your phone depending on your country and if your phone is locked to a carrier.  Everyone’s favorite example is Verizon and the Lumia Cyan update which never came out.  Instead, owners of the Lumia ICON (Lumia 930 in the rest of the world) had to wait a full year before that got it and Lumia Denim at the same time.  A year.  It’s unacceptable and is something that Microsoft has said they are addressing with the release of Windows 10 Mobile.

If however you are thinking that the Android grass is greener, guess again.  The upgrading of Android devices to the next version of the OS, Lollipop, if fraught with problems, delays and phones that, while can run it, will never get the update.  Compounding this is the sheer number of devices that are out there and all the possible permutations of Android that have to be developed to support those devices.  By Gartner’s estimate, there are over 18,000 versions of Android out in the wild today.  18,000!  That makes a uniform, systematic upgrade virtually impossible.

The Skype for Android app has received an update today that brings several new user friendly features to it.  While none of the new features are overwhelming and indeed are present in many other Instant Messaging and video apps, this update bring Skype on par with them with simple things like an indicator when the other person is typing.  The update, version 5.4.0.3239, also brings the ability to send feedback on the app directly from within it amongst several other improvements and fixes.

Skype for Android – Free – Download Now