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Andrew Martonik Profile picture
Andrew Martonik
@andrewmartonik
Portfolio Manager @valnetinc. (Formerly EIC @digitaltrends; editor @androidcentral @futureplc.) I once scolded Jonah Hill for using a fart app on an airplane.
Sep 24, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Now, something ridiculous: the Ring Always Home Cam … it’s a goddamn drone that flies around your house with a camera. #AmazonDevices Who the hell needs or wants this? This is so beyond necessary. #AmazonDevices
Sep 23, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Galaxy S20 Fan Edition. A new entry point to the S20 line is $699, or $300 less than the S20's MSRP. The S20, but bigger, larger battery, strategic spec cuts, tweak the cameras, and make the back plastic.

Not sure what about that is "fan" focused, but ok. digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung… “Fan Edition” is just a name. The real goal of this thing is to bridge the gap between the Galaxy A series and Galaxy S series. Samsung knows the S series has gotten incredibly expensive, but the A series is seen as a much lesser device. So split the difference.
Sep 18, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Samsung’s Tab S7+ is best-used as a massive content consumption tablet, not unlike a little personal TV. But it also has this air of _productivity_ about it that … kinda feels half-baked considering the price. Full review from @AndyBoxall: digitaltrends.com/tablet-reviews… I have the regular Galaxy Tab S7, which is smaller and $200 less, to test out as well. More thoughts from that perspective soon. But I feel it may be the one to get. It’s not a personal TV, but it’s dramatically more portable and the price almost makes sense.
Sep 17, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
The Motorola One 5G is a fine affordable phone. It’s a phone that retails for ~$450 but that AT&T and Verizon will deeply discount. When they do, it’s a good buy. digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-rev… You get solid specs (although 4GB of RAM is annoying), and a big 90Hz display, which is great at this price. The cameras are actually surprisingly good too, and Motorola’s software is exceptionally good.
Sep 15, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
The new iPad Air may be a better pro iPad than the iPad Pro

digitaltrends.com/mobile/ipad-ai… (Say that 10 times fast)
Sep 15, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Microsoft Teams sure is a terrible service. Slack has nothing to worry about. The apps are bad; crashy, slow, inconsistent across platforms.

The service is bad; minimal channel options, missing keyboard shortcuts, basically no configurability.
Sep 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
So, I’m done wearing the Galaxy Buds Live for running. They are really Not Good active/sport headphones.

They don’t stay in my ears. Always slightly loose and moving. (Yes, I use the large wingtips.) The same thing that makes them comfortable makes them terrible for active wear. Because of that, I’m constantly readjusting them. Which is impossible to do w/o triggering touch controls.

I end up making sure I adjust one then the other in succession so I quickly pause and resume media because each one registers a single tap. Hilarious to have to deal with.
Sep 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
So uhh, LG Wing. It’s a thing! And I dig that LG is trying a different kind of “dual screen” device that isn’t just two equal screens with a hinge. We need to try various form factors to find out what works. Way too early to declare victory for just one. digitaltrends.com/mobile/lg-wing… One of the coolest parts about the Wing is it has two different ultra-wide cameras. One is rotated 90* to shoot landscape video when held in portrait — so you swivel the screen, and the video matches the orientation of the top display, while you grip the small part. Very cool!
Sep 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Samsung is having *another* Unpacked event. This time for the “fans.” Alrighty. digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung… Good bet it’ll be some more of these “Fan Edition” Galaxys. Not entirely sure what tree they’re barking up with Fan Editions, but it’s worth a shot right? digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung…
Sep 10, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
It’s really hard to review the Surface Duo, because it’s like nothing else out there. It’s not really a phone, but it is a device you’re expected to carry every day like a phone. And it’s priced like a (very high-end) phone. digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-rev… When you look at it as a transformational device pushing the industry to a new level, you absolutely look at it positively. The hardware is stunning and the functionality is, in ideal circumstances, very good. Microsoft achieved so much here.
Sep 1, 2020 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
🤤 Image Care instructions!

And a fine box. Nothing crazy though, considering $2000 price. ImageImage
Aug 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Today, I say farewell to @androidcentral after over 8 years. A site, and group of people, I love immensely.

I started as a freelancer, and leave as an Executive Editor. It's been an incredible journey, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Now, onward to new opportunities. I'm eternally grateful to @madolfsson and @mdrndad for giving me an opportunity in this business. A whole lot has changed, but none of it would've happened without them.

And as I've already told everyone at the company privately, I'll reiterate: you're all amazing people.
Aug 5, 2020 • 6 tweets • 5 min read
I was lucky enough to be in the group of people who could see the Note 20 and all of the other Samsung products ahead of launch. I took a whole lot of great photos: Image The Galaxy Note 20, in bronze: ImageImageImageImage
Aug 5, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
The Note 20 Ultra is a surprisingly great phone. It’s $100 cheaper than the S20 Ultra, yet it has a better display, enhanced cameras and imho a nicer looking design.

The Note 20, on the other hand … feels lost. $1000 for a phone with a plastic back, 60Hz display and less RAM. I was lucky enough to actually use the phones for a little bit; many people didn't. I obviously can't deliver anything resembling a final verdict yet. But this is a nice little update from the Note 10 series — and like the last few years, nothing here is going to blow you away.
Aug 3, 2020 • 7 tweets • 6 min read
Google Pixel 4a camera appreciation thread: ImageImageImageImage More: ImageImageImageImage
Aug 3, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Google really did things right with the Pixel 4a. Kept the small form factor, but upgraded specs and design to feel modern for 2020. Kept that same amazing camera setup that distinguishes it from the entire market. And, shaved $50 off the price. My review: androidcentral.com/google-pixel-4… You just can’t beat what this thing offers for only $350. Google didn’t skimp anywhere that enhances the experience; and made lots of really customer-friendly choices with 6GB RAM / 128GB storage, a nice display for the money, and the same guaranteed updates as every other Pixel.
Jul 29, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
I’m torn. It’s a dirty move for Google to get data on how every Android user uses every app, and then ostensibly use it to make competing products.

OTOH this is the exact kinda thing the ToS tells you Google can do — and there are far more sinister things it could be doing. It’s similar to so many of the antitrust discussions going on with tech companies. They’re so massive it’s hard to see how consumers could reasonably “leave” them when they do something wrong. But ultimately, you *can* leave them if you disagree with their policies/practices.
Jul 28, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Every person I've seen on a Revel has a blatant disregard for safety. Few helmets, skipping all traffic laws, reckless speed. Better yet, they're being used in bike lanes/paths, sidewalks, bike areas of bridges, and parks.

Sad that it's not just a nuisance, but people have died. It’s a great idea to have a system like this in place. But Revel has to do a *way* better job educating riders before they’re allowed to ride. People are treating these like Citi Bikes, but they’re dramatically faster and more dangerous if not used properly.
Jul 27, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Quick Charge 5 is a big improvement, because it catches up to these proprietary charging systems the phone makers are putting out … but does so in a standardized way that any company can buy and put in their phones/chargers. Qualcomm didn’t have to beat OPPO or anyone else; it just matched them, but has the leg up with huge cross-compatibility to older QC 4 devices and in future a wave of new QC 5 accessories. The ubiquity of Quick Charge in the world is a big selling point over proprietary systems.
Jul 22, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Funny I was having this discussion with my mom, a respiratory therapist, yesterday. Your common “medical” mask does effectively nothing to stop viruses, in or out. Most DIY fabric masks are no better — typical fabrics are breathable by design, and they let viruses right through. The story with a fitted N95 or N100 mask is much different of course, because they can filter *way* better and they have a tight fit on your face. But unfortunately the “homemade mask” trend is a vast majority of what you see in use, and sadly they’re doing little-to-nothing.
Jul 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
It just took 3 factory resets and 30 min to pair a Wear OS watch to my phone Image In my first 45 minutes after setup, I’ve experienced:

- horribly slow animations
- missed taps
- Google Fit not recognizing the rotating crown(!!)
- getting kicked out of an app setup by another app sending me a notification
- a full device lock-up
- Google Play won’t open