Ramblings on tech and otherwise | Lawyer by accident, Tech Journalist by choice | Present: Senior Writer, Temp News Lead
@AndroidAuth
; Past: EiC
@xdadevelopers
I've built a modest following here, comprising of friends and industry contacts. I'd very much like to use this one less (hopefully over time), so if you're on that other app, follow me there!
Still mad Samsung didn't include a pre-applied screen protector on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. I've wasted far too much money on stupid shit like this where the sides don't stick. And I already have micro-scratches on the screen
@suumitshah
@arnob1
If you expected it already and had a reply ready, why not provide your sympathies as part of the thread? Round it up better out of the gate if it was expected already.
Customer support laid off, Sunday work plans, 6am launches - Sounds like a horrible place to work at.
Some personal news: This is my last week as Editor in Chief
@xdadevelopers
. When I wrote my first article for the site 7+ years ago, I didn't even dream that I would make it this far. But a few thousand written articles and as many edits later, it's time for a new chapter in life
Yamaha's stupid cost cutting led to my new bike sliding off its side stand and falling, twice in two months. Replaced the original side stand spring (silver color) with this random local spring (gold color). Now bike stays on side stand confidently.
Cost? ₹30.
I've been using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon - India) for a few days now, and wow. WOW.
Hate the pointy corners and the slow charging. And maybe the price?
But other than that, this is it. This sets the benchmark to beat for Android phones in 2022.
Some personal news to share:
Happy to announce my promotion to the role of Interim Editor in Chief
@xdadevelopers
Mishaal leaves behind some big shoes to fill. I'm honored by the trust everyone in the team places in me and I hope I can continue to do justice to XDA's legacy.
@aamirsidd94
Words can't describe how much XDA owes to you, too. You've been around even longer than I have, and your ability to step up to be the Manager of Evergreen content has been crucial to our growth as a media org.
I wish you the best of luck as the new EiC!
Everyone gives OnePlus shit for the green line issue. But that's the only company I know that has handled it well.
Here's a Galaxy S21 FE with 12+ green/pink/white lines and no resolution from Samsung.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a very promising device, actually managing to make a convincing argument for a "budget gaming" smartphone
#RedmiNote8Pro
I've been using the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 for a few days now, since it was on discount when you buy the S22U. And I have some ✨thoughts✨ on the state of smartwatches in general, after having used watches like Apple Watch 7, OnePlus Watch, Amazfit GTRs, Mi Bands, and more.
@RaoSumukh
Stop quote-tweeting, retweeting, or engaging with that account in any way. If needed, use screenshots. Otherwise, you contribute to his vile views, as X now pays him for the engagement.
The embargo is finally up, and I can talk more about how the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's camera compares to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
All shots in the thread are point-and-shoot. No tapping for focus, no playing around with other settings.
#Xiaomi14Ultra
#GalaxyS24Ultra
My comparison of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra against the Galaxy S24 Ultra has been filed, but gotta wait out the embargo. Meanwhile, here are some of my fav shots!
I couldn't get as artistic this time around since shooting on two phones. But the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has still been a delight!
OnePlus informed me that it is offering a "lifetime screen warranty" for devices affected by the green line issue. This info is currently limited in scope to India. There are also some upgrade discounts being offered to select users.
More details at AA:
THIS PHONE HAS OUR LOGO ON IT!!!!! YESSS, XDA MADE A PHONE!
Started as an April Fools prank 4 years ago, and now we finally have a product that represents some of our vision on smartphones! I hope you like it!
Not buying one for myself, but I am excited about this. We in India can finally preorder a Pixel flagship at the same time as presumably the rest of the world. Price it right, and Google has a chance to win some camera enthusiasts and Android purists in the premium segment
[India Only] Looking for developers with plenty of hardcore Android ROM/kernel/device development experience for a community project. If you are interested, please DM. RT appreciated for visibility.
All set! Xiaomi 12S Ultra for gaming, media, and primary camera. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max for socials and video, battery, ecosystem (Watch, Airtags).
Still sad that Xiaomi didn't release the 12S Ultra globally. With a cleaner Global ROM, this would have been such a great device.
Annoying bit about the Mumbai heat is that my iPhone won't charge beyond 80% during the day.
It has a case on it. But otherwise, I am not even using it. It's just sitting on the desk (not in direct sunlight ofc), plugged in, but not charging beyond 80%......
Happy to share I've transitioned from a freelance role to a full-time role at
@AndroidAuth
, beginning this month😀
You'll spot me doing more of the same: News coverage around phones and tech, and other Features and Tutorial bits here and there.
Apple's first official retail store in India is coming up at Jio World Drive Mall in BKC, Mumbai.
Once you're done shopping for shiny apples, I recommend exiting the mall and crossing the side street to get some amazing Bombay-style dosas in the khau galli behind Family Court.
At first glance, Pixel 7 and 7 Pro pre-order offers look bad for India. But, if the phone itself is priced competitively, then these will make a lot more sense.
Your reminder to check your ceiling fan for faults before the blades fly off and hit someone in the head
(I'm fine. Flew in the direction opposite to where I was sitting, so no one was hurt thankfully. Chunked a good piece off the wall beam though.)
Searched all over the house for the OnePlus Buds Pro. I found the case on my desk but not the earphones, which was very surprising since I never really leave earbuds out of the case.
A good minute later, I realized they were in my ears.😶
Someone asked me for a "Chinese-free" smartphone recommendation under ₹20k. I informed them that Goodix makes most of the fingerprint scanners in use in current-gen smartphones, and that they should probably start looking for a smartphone without a fp scanner first.
The Mi 11 Ultra was my favorite phone of 2021. Absolutely overkill in every way, I loved it.
But it's now time to switch to a different flagship. This will be my first Galaxy Note.
Hello Galaxy S22 Ultra! (This time with Snapdragon!)
@harsh_language
@suumitshah
@arnob1
So that at least the optics of it appears to be empathetic. Right now, it's just farming layoffs for content like a thread-boi influencer. We don't know if there was severance pay, job reccos etc. Those could have been mentioned since it was "expected."
@verge
This one time someone kept arguing how the Boston Dynamics robot dog wasn't evil and how it was humans that were evil. Now we're both evil, thanks natural evolution
Now that Nord is done and dusted, can we get some hype for the ROG Phone 3 too?? Possibly the most absolutely insane overkill what-are-you-even-going-to-do-with-these-specs smartphone for this year
CONSUMER 5G IS NOT COMING TO INDIA BEFORE 2023, NOR WILL IT BE CHEAP AND ALL THESE PHONES BEING SOLD DON'T EVEN SUPPORT IT PROPERLY, IT'S JUST MARKETING DEPTS MANUFACTURING DEMAND THROUGH ARTIFICIAL NEEDS. WE'D BE JUST FINE WITH 4G PHONES FOR ANOTHER 2 YEA...
New case! Nice glass back, favorite city as the background. Bumpers are meh, but I like how this turns the generic iPhone 13 Pro to something that is mine.
First of the international devs to get the Poco X2! There's a 7 day wait for bootloader unlock (hoping the time wait goes down), so we expect to see some exciting things out of this soon.
Auto90 -> Auto120 ? 👀
Wow this is horrible pricing for a bad chip. There's no reason why you should pick this when there are phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 8 Plus Gen 1 at cheaper/similar price levels.
Good check: If someone is recommending this phone to you, you need to stop listening to them.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is now available with Snapdragon 888 chipset in 🇮🇳 India at Samsung Shop official website.
Priced at ₹49,999 for 8GB+256GB.
₹5,000 discount for HDFC EMI & credit card.
The Exynos 2100 variant has been discontinued.
Read more:
@chandrarsrikant
And boomers should touch grass once in a while. Overglorifying hustle culture will lead generations to burnout and lifestyle complications. That's what happens when your definition of "progress" is just GDP and economy. Life is more than just making money unhealthily.
Happy Birthday
@manukumarjain
! Would be quite an understatement to say that you changed the smartphone landscape in India, for the better. Wish you a happy and healthy life ahead!
My fixed deposit for the PS5 (I was saving up for it for years, yup) matures on Nov 29. The PS5 is still nowhere to be found in India. Not even a date for its first sale. This was going to be my next console, after the first PS. The child in me is so disappointed rn.
@PouloCruelo
@666RD
Then the contract was renewed by action.
Their actions created a fresh contract/renewal in a non-written format, which can take the same requirements of fulfillment of the previous contract since modified terms were not presented.
I've been using the OnePlus 11 for a few weeks now, and I like the phone and its ergonomics enough to completely switch out from the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Yes, you read that right. The OP11 really does feel great to hold, and if you've used the 14 Pro Max, you get what I am saying.
Me: Hey I want these 10 items, can you deliver them in one box?
Amazon:
Me:
Amazon:
Me: ......
Amazon: They're arriving in 10 different boxes by 10 different agents 10 mins apart on the same day. Also some of them are in giant boxes.
With all due respect, the statement does not answer why a browser is collecting URLs and search terms when in incognito mode. What is the purpose of incognito mode then?
Ref:
⚠️ INCORRECT NEWS ALERT
Mi fans, a news report claiming, 'Mi Browser collects unnecessary user information' is floating on social media.
This is completely inaccurate.
Pls read, understand and be informed.
RT & spread the word 🙏
Details here:
Soon I'll have enough spare parts to build my own phone. /s
Jokes aside, keep em coming! Nerdy invites are great, and this one from Realme is for the Realme 8 series that is launching on March 24.
Not my purchase, but my brother treated himself to
@XiaomiIndia
's Mi Notebook Ultra. First impressions is that it's pretty good for the price. Can't find any obvious flaws that pop out, other than maybe top firing speakers?
Cost: ₹56,332 (~$706)
Got my iPhone 15 Pro Max, day 1 at Apple BKC.
First impressions:
Apple fixed the worst bits from the iPhone 14 Pro Max: This one is so much lighter and feels much better in the hand. No more sharp edges digging into my palm! That 19g weight difference is immediately felt.
My 4yr old nephew has figured out I am the one lowering the volume on the TV from my phone when he is watching. Whenever I sneak change the volume, he'll run over trying to catch me red-handed. He's now more interested in this game than the TV content 🤣
I'm in Dubai for an event with Vivo around the upcoming X80 series. Can't say more because of the embargo, but I can share images from the phone. So here's a running thread with photos from the Vivo X80 Pro:
#Vivo
#vivoX80series
This also just got delivered. Official Leather Cover for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. I used the Spigen Ultra Hybrid before this, but the phone is too bulky as it is, and the case is protection-focused so it got bulkier.
This is thinner. Great feel in the hand. Color is meh.
Can't believe people are recommending a Snapdragon 888 phone in late 2023 with a straight face.
Get a Snapdragon 888 phone in October 2023 only if you are getting it for free. There are other better options in the midrange that will give you a better experience.
I do not hesitate to say this in the slightest: Mishaal is the smartest Android writer/code sleuth working on this planet right now. If you need someone who REALLY knows Android, Mishaal is your guy.
Hi folks, sadly I was impacted by the recent round of layoffs😢
While I'm no longer a FTE, I'm still working for Esper as a contractor. But because of that, I'm looking for more work! I'm open to any opportunities; my contact details can be found below.
What's a good file transfer solution for iOS <-> Windows <-> Android?
For Android <-> Windows, I just used Pushbullet.
I am using Telegram as a stop-gap solution.
I got a bike!*
Meet the Yamaha Aerox!
Needed something for city use. Tried my hand at geared bikes but the constant gear-shifting in heavy traffic got cumbersome very quick. The usual 125cc auto scooters were pretty boring and struggle at 70-80kph.
*Scooter, but as fast.
@barandbench
@narendramodi
@India_NHRC
That's.....against the Constitution. Several rights are absolute and provided by virtue of just being a human in existence. Rights are not transactional with duties
Phone companies, it's time to call off your launches. I hope Apple also listens, but that's on the other side of the world. You are on this side, please read the room.
Experience with shfiting from eSIM to physical SIM:
Reached Airtel store 10mins away, out of the store in 2 minutes with SIM card. Service switchover within 4hrs, SMS in 1day.
Store scanned my Aadhar, clicked a pic for photo id, asked for OTP, and done. Cost: ₹50 (~65 cents)
Selling my Galaxy S21 Ultra (Black). About 6 months old, pristine condition, not a single scratch anywhere. Will also include the Spigen Ultra Hybrid case that I use.
Mumbai only. DM if interested! Retweets appreciated!