Android Central Podcast

389: Less CARROT, More Stick

July 16, 2018 02:35 - 1 hour - 28.8 MB

Daniel Bader and Russell Holly speak with Brian Mueller, founder of Carrot apps. Brian's apps have long been a mainstay of the iOS ecosystem, now he's brought his most popular app, CARROT Weather, to Android. CARROT Weather is in itself a terrific weather app, but wrapped in a hilariously snarky AI persona. He shares his experience developing for Android and his impression of the platform. They also discuss the latest developments (pun intended) for AR/VR creation on Android. Listen carefu...

388: The Island of Misfit Phones

July 08, 2018 16:41 - 1 hour - 41.6 MB

The prog rockers of Android expertise: Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand, discuss app permissions that allow developers to read your emails. More importantly, they provide information on how to prevent it from happening. LG G7 ThinQ is a good phone that will appeal to relatively few people — and a big reason for that is lack of availability and carrier support. The crew also talk about Android P Beta 3. New features have been added as the OS marches closer to release. ...

387: YouTube Super Deluxe Mega Instant Pot Extreme Chartreuse

June 27, 2018 15:39 - 1 hour - 45.6 MB

Android Central's resident music streaming expert, Ara Wagoner, joins Daniel Bader and Jerry Hildenbrand to talk about YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and what features they provide. They also discuss AT&T's purchase of Time Warner for $85 billion and the potential for abuse by controlling the content and the pipe. Show Notes and Links: What is YouTube Premium? YouTube Music review: A mixtape full of promise YouTube Music: Everything you need to know YouTube Music vs. Google Play...

386: Shameless and Shameful

June 23, 2018 23:39 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

We're back to our regular format with Andrew Martonik, Jerry Hildenbrand, and Daniel Bader at the helm for a detailed look at Android Messages, and efficiency of the hardware keyboard on BlackBerry KEY2. Next, they tackle blatant "inspiration" the Vivo NEX takes from iOS. But it, along with the OPPO Find X, address customer demand for huge screens and no bezels by incorporating pop-up cameras. In a world of solid-state slabs, this is almost a throwback to the days of slider phones. Pull up...

385: Smoothering the Rougherness

June 08, 2018 20:56 - 1 hour - 59 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Russell Holly, and Michael Fisher gather in New York City for a look at the BlackBerry KEY2 and its glorious hardware keyboard. It's a safe upgrade from the original, but features a faster processor, more RAM, dual cameras, a stronger frame, and larger keys. As an aperitif to the main course, they chat about Moto's Z3 Play. It's a solid, mid-range phone that will be available unlocked in the U.S for $499, but through only two carriers — Sprint and US Cellular...

384: Killing it, not "Killin' it"

May 27, 2018 15:44 - 1 hour - 61.6 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Russell Holly host the backdoor pilot for AC Foodcast as they talk about the GDPR Hall of Shame, OnePlus 6, and its $69 companion Bluetooth earbuds, Bullets Wireless. Essential Phone 2 is reportedly canceled, and founder Andy Rubin is considering selling the company. Some people have gotten hands-on time with RED Hydrogen One, but release of the product is still a little ways off. In addition, BlackBerry is teasing the KEY2, which will have dual rear came...

383: Meet Me at Niagara Falls

May 18, 2018 22:31 - 1 hour - 52.1 MB

Daniel Bader, Alex Dobie, and Jerry Hildenbrand talk about the perceived smoke and mirrors behind the demonstration of Google Duplex last week, and the real world implications of the technology. They also take another look at Android P beta, especially the new gestures it supports. From there, it's a deep dive into OnePlus 6. With flawlessly smooth performance, it offers 90% of the quality of its competitors for 75% of the price. Finally, President Trump is working to get ZTE back into bus...

382: Finger Pecker People

May 11, 2018 19:37 - 1 hour - 58 MB

Let those in glass boxes cast the hottest of takes! Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Alex Dobie, and Russell Holly are joined by special guest Igor Bonifacic of MobileSyrup.com. No stone or announcement from Google I/O 2018 goes unturned in this analysis of Google Duplex, Android P, and everything else in between. Second Burger King to the right, and straight on 'til morning! Show Notes and Links: MobileSyrup Google I/O 2018 Google I/O 2018: All the big announcements! Sponsors: Thrift...

381: Corporate Raiders of the Lost ARCore

May 05, 2018 04:31 - 1 hour - 67.9 MB

Daniel Bader is back from South Korea, and he has plenty of insight to share with Andrew Martonik and Jerry Hildenbrand about the (finally official) LG G7 ThinQ. But first, Sprint and T-Mobile are merging to become a Voltron of cellular service in the United States. They discuss the business rationale behind this alliance; as well as pros and cons of this news from a customer perspective. The crew also look ahead with a preview of Google I/O 2018 and new Google Assistant features on Wear O...

380: Premium Hand Feel

April 27, 2018 18:07 - 1 hour - 68.2 MB

With Daniel Bader on a secret mission, Russell Holly steps in as guest host to chat about the week's news with Andrew Martonik and Jerry Hildenbrand. Motorola has sold over 70 million Moto G devices since 2013, and their phones are omnipresent in Brazil. Now they're looking to expand their growth around the globe. The fun doesn't stop there! Development of eSIM technology has been halted because Verizon and AT&T can't get along. Amazon has announced the Echo Dot Kids Edition, and they want...

379: Enemies of the State

April 23, 2018 14:56 - 1 hour - 56.3 MB

The power trio of Daniel Bader, Russell Holly, and Jerry Hildenbrand talk about ZTE being banned from using U.S.-based hardware or software in their products as a consequence of selling products into North Korea and Iran. Could this put an end to their smartphone business? Also, Google is set to announce 'Chat', a messaging client intended to unify chat across all Android devices and eliminate the need for SMS in most situations. But wait, there's more! The gang also discuss rumors that LG...

378: AI Intervention

April 16, 2018 16:45 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand dissect Samsung Galaxy S9 battery life and the claim that numerous Android OEMs have been lying about security patches. They also check out the new Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact, the latter of which is the new standard for small phones. Android TV has been approved by the FCC, signaling an impending launch for Google's streaming dongle. Additionally, LG is trying to regroup with the G7 ThinQ and efforts to offer Oreo support and improv...

377: €950 Beta Testers

April 07, 2018 18:16 - 1 hour - 55.9 MB

Alex Dobie and Jerry Hildenbrand join Daniel Bader to chat more about the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro and the Neural Processing Unit that’s baked into the Kirin processor. They also read and respond to several listener emails about Chromebooks vs. iPads in the classroom. Next up, they discuss Galaxy S9 battery problems and differences between Exynos and Snapdragon processors that Samsung is using in different markets. Along the lines of Google DNS, Cloudflare has launched a DNS service called 1...

376: Picking Pieces Off The Carcass

March 31, 2018 18:16 - 1 hour - 66.2 MB

Daniel Bader and Andrew Martonik, are joined by associate editor Hayato Huseman to talk about the creepiness of Facebook, the upside of notches, and taptic engine performance on Android devices. They also discuss the new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 — the first Chrome OS tablet to hit the market. Plus, the crew takes a look at the triple threat Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, the Porsche Design Mate RS, and why software continues to be such a big problem for Samsung. Show Notes and Links: Hayato Huse...

375: The Emoji-Burger Correlation

March 24, 2018 19:29 - 1 hour - 77 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand gather to discuss the very late arrival of Android Oreo on Galaxy Note 8 and use of emoji as an adjunct to written language. From there, they do an incredibly detailed pixel peep of the Galaxy S9+ camera compared to Google’s Pixel 2 XL. They say podcasts are the theatre of the mind, but you’ll want to take a look at these photos for yourself: Galaxy S9+ vs. Pixel 2 XL: Which camera is best? The gang also talk about OnePlus 6 and Huawe...

374: Make 5G Great Again

March 18, 2018 22:07 - 1 hour - 59 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Russell Holly talk about President Trump blocking Broadcomm’s planned takeover of Qualcomm, and affect it may have on the still nascent 5G technology. They also pore over the Galaxy S9’s camera and other features. Rising from the ashes of Android Wear, Wear OS is here! Similarly, Fitbit Versa has arrived and the crew talk about the current state of fitness tracking in the Android ecosystem. Finally, Google is bringing their Maps API to augmented reality g...

373: You, me and Android P

March 10, 2018 02:44 - 1 hour - 52.3 MB

Andrew Martonik and Alex Dobie ditch the rest of the crew and recover after a busy week of fish mongering and phone testing in Seattle. They talk all about the Samsung Galaxy S9, and the hot features coming in Android P. They also have the scoop on OnePlus 6, which includes a now familiar notch and glass back. Show Notes and Links: Samsung Galaxy S9 review Samsung Galaxy S9+ video review Samsung Galaxy S9: Everything you need to know Android P: Top 6 things you need to know! Andr...

372: Pepino's Popper Podcast

March 01, 2018 17:09 - 2 hours - 63.7 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Alex Dobie, Michael Fisher, and Derek Kessler, spend their final evening in Barcelona sequestered in an apartment with drinks aplenty as they recount all the announcements from Mobile World Congress. It’s truly an Android news bender of epic proportions. Seriously, this episode is worth every moment of your time! Show Notes and Links: LG V30S ThinQ Nokia announces €749 Nokia 8 Sirocco, improved Nokia 7 Plus and Android Go-powered Nokia 1 Nokia 8 Sirocco h...

371: Android Shrugged

February 13, 2018 19:38 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand are not lawyers, but they play them on podcasts. As the team gird their collective loins for Mobile World Congress, OnePlus remains in the crosshairs of Internet outrage. But is all the anger justified? Also, who should the responsibility and cost associated with security updates fall to? Carriers? Phone manufacturers? Should customers have to pay extra for guaranteed updates? So many questions! The crew also discuss the redesign expec...

370: Outrage Porn

February 04, 2018 22:59 - 1 hour - 48.7 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Russell Holly, and Jerry Hildenbrand discuss trust issues with OnePlus when it comes to privacy and security, and why it isn’t necessary to place limits on voice activated services like Google Assistant and Alexa. Despite some recent claims to the contrary, Andrew explains why 64GB of internal storage is sufficient for most users in 2018. The crew also talks about Google’s efforts to clean house in the Play Store, timeframes for the release of Android P, and ...

369: Now use Google Assistant

January 27, 2018 23:19 - 1 hour - 35.7 MB

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Russell Holly, and Jerry Hildenbrand convene to talk about LG, the death of Google Now as Google Assistant takes its place, and the race for mindshare in the voice assistant and smart speaker market. They also tackle the latest rumors and leaks of the Galaxy S9, which is set to launch February 25th. Join us! Show Notes and Links: The U.S. smartphone industry has an LG problem LG says G7 is 'on schedule', will be announced 'when the time is right' Googl...

368: Gaming Spectacular

January 21, 2018 21:47 - 1 hour - 44.8 MB

Daniel Bader and Russell Holly are joined by Apps and Games Editor, Marc Lagace! They begin by talking about the massive credit card breach at OnePlus, Samsung Galaxy X rumors, foldable phone tech, and various issues that continue to plague LG. The majority of the show is devoted to gaming — The trouble with loot boxes and games that ship incomplete to hit release dates, the best new Android games, hot indie titles, and what’s new in AR. Check it out! Show Notes and Links: OnePlus conf...

367: A Tight Spiral

January 16, 2018 18:32 - 1 hour - 42.9 MB

This week, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Alex Dobie take a look at some fresh Samsung Galaxy S9 and LG G7 rumors before diving into Android Central’s Best of CES 2018 Awards. They also take a look at other news from the show, including Google Assistant penetration into the automotive market, Lenovo’s Smart Display, an NVIDIA 4K HDR TV, fingerprint sensor technology, Razer’s “Project Linda”, and more! Show Notes and Links: Samsung Galaxy S9 will be announced in February at MWC Sam...

366: Favorites, Failures, and Surprises

December 26, 2017 22:26 - 1 hour - 31.4 MB

In this episode, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand wrap up this year’s coverage of the Android universe with a look back at the Galaxy Note 8, plus reviews of the Amazon Echo Spot and Google Home Max. They also talk about Eric Schmidt leaving the Executive Chairman role at Alphabet. Additionally, they share their top picks from 2017. Join us for the last hurrah before CES in January! Show Notes and Links: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review, 3 months later: A polarizing pow...

365: $600 Sandpaper

December 18, 2017 15:58 - 1 hour - 42.1 MB

In this episode, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, Alex Dobie, and Russell Holly wax philosophical about the Snapdragon 845 SoC and why the Pixel’s AR stickers are the most fun you can have with a camera. They also talk about the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition phone and a few spoiler-free thoughts on ‘The Last Jedi’. The crew also delves into Synaptics’ new in-display fingerprint sensor and the Vivo phone it is launching on. Oreo is coming to the Galaxy S8 and renders have been leaked o...

364: Notches All The Way Down

December 11, 2017 17:35 - 1 hour - 53.8 MB

This week on the show, Daniel Bader is on assignment in Hawaii. Yes, really. In his absence, Andrew Martonik, Alex Dobie, and Russell Holly pick up the slack and share their favorite tech of 2017. They also talk about the HTC U11+, a trio of new Honor phones, and Android Oreo (Go edition). Android Go is specifically designed for entry-level phones with 1GB or less of RAM, and 8GB of storage. They also discuss the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, and rumors that the Galaxy S9 might be announced...

363: Bezeltastic

December 02, 2017 02:06 - 1 hour - 65.2 MB

In this episode, Daniel Bader and Andrew Martonik talk about how well the Pixel 2 is holding up after a month of use. It offers a fantastic overall experience and great battery life at a comparatively reasonable price. They also discuss Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro. Daniel says it comes close to greatness, but the software is its Achilles’ heel. Other topics include: Android 8.1 Developer Preview, the ‘Pixel Visual Core’ SoC, and Google Photo Books. Andrew and Daniel remind us that as good as smar...

362: Homogeneous Slab

November 23, 2017 03:56 - 1 hour - 55.9 MB

This week, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Russell Holly dig in with the OnePlus 5T and try to figure out why it seems like almost all smartphones are starting to look alike. They also talk about the importance of buying a phone for what it can do now — not what it might be capable of later. Google is in the news once again with another trust and reputation violating faux pas. This time, they’ve been secretly collecting users’ cell tower locations. Finally, friends don’t let friends b...

361: Try harder, bud

November 17, 2017 20:35 - 1 hour - 61.8 MB

Daniel Bader and Andrew Martonik welcome Mobile Nation’s newest employee to the show — Associate Video Editor Hayato Huseman! Hayato talks with the gang about their experience and initial testing of the OnePlus 5T, which was recently unveiled in New York City. A modest update to the OnePlus 5, the 5T is marketed as a $499 flagship. It may not fully compete with phones like the Galaxy S8 and Pixel 2, but the price is far more accessible. They also discuss the enthusiast community’s disapp...

360: No Longer a Nerd Phone

November 11, 2017 14:45 - 1 hour - 71.9 MB

This week on the show Daniel Bader, Jerry Hildenbrand, and Russell Holly are joined by Dan DeSilva from our sister site, thrifter.com, to talk about about some great deals on gadgets and other items before Black Friday hits. The team also covers a large swath of topics both Android and non-Android related, including Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro, improved water resistance for phones, and the time Daniel got in trouble with his parents about the Diablo 2 real money auction house. They a...

359: Razer’s Edge

November 06, 2017 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MB

Alex Dobie takes center stage this week as he, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand talk about his hands-on experience with some recently announced devices: the Razer Phone and HTC’s U11+. Razer’s maiden voyage into the smartphone market is targeted towards gamers. With a unique 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and a huge 4,000mAh battery, it offers an opportunity for high frame rates on a mobile device. But can the Android gaming experience really take advantage of its poten...

358: The Alphabet Soup of Display Technology

October 28, 2017 01:45 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB

Writer and analyst Daniel Matte from techspecs.blog joins Daniel Bader, Alex Dobie, and Russell Holly to discuss the issues, real and perceived, with the display used on Google’s Pixel 2 XL. They also talk about the software changes Google has promised to help address problems with the device. To wrap things up, the crew chats about the Pixelbook, OnePlus 5T rumors, and the Android 8.1 beta! Show Notes and Links: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL review Google to address Pixel 2 X...

357: Google's Main Squeeze

October 20, 2017 20:45 - 1 hour - 32.4 MB

It’s a full house this week on the show, but Daniel Bader, Alex Dobie, Andrew Martonik, Jerry Hildenbrand, and Russell Holly deliver a tight 70 minutes of insight into Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Is the display on the XL as bad as some reviewers have said, or are expectations out of whack because the screens on recent Samsung phones are just so good? One thing is certain—the FUD machine is running at full throttle. The crew also talk about the usefulness of the squeeze function as...

356: Dial D for Duo

October 13, 2017 17:46 - 1 hour - 43.2 MB

Your privacy and personal data are a major topic this week as Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik , and Jerry Hildenbrand talk about Google’s quick decision to disable touch-activated listening on the Home Mini before it becomes available to consumers. OnePlus is taking some heat once again; this time for data collection concerns regarding OxygenOS. On a more positive note, Google is adding Duo video calling to the dialer and SMS app on Pixel, Nexus, and Android One phones. Also, Disney has ...

355: Pixel Central

October 06, 2017 21:43 - 1 hour - 49.1 MB

Daniel Bader, Jerry Hildenbrand, Russell Holly, and Andrew Martonik convene for a detailed breakdown of all the announcements from Google’s Pixel hardware event this week. They get the bezel bashing out of the way quickly before moving on to Google’s Home Mini and Home Max, followed by a look at the Pixelbook. Besides Jerry, who is the target audience for Chrome OS on such a high end piece of hardware? Are the specs simply overkill for what can be accomplished on the device? It’s a com...