Episode 33: Another One

This week, we do a follow up segment on Android Oreo. We also talk about the announcement of a brand new Android One phone. Cristian reviews another Oreo. We discuss tips and tricks for figuring out if a particular tech news/video is just marketing fluff or an actual informative piece of content.

Show Notes:

  • Follow-up – Android O
  • 10:20 New Xiaomi-built Android One phone to launch in 40 markets
    • Sadiq makes a really bad good DJ Khaled pun
    • Cristian proceeds to do the introduction to the Xiaomi Mi A1
      • This is the highest end Android One phone yet
    • We also talk about possibly importing this phone and whether it will work with carriers in the USA and Canada
  • 17:00 Thin Lemon Oreo Reviews
    • Cristian reviews the Thin Lemon Oreo
    • Cristian apologises for his comments about Tim Hortons last week
  • 20:25 Patreon of The Week: Crow Moore
    • [bloop noise]
    • This weeks Patreon that you should support is Crow Moore’s page. Crow is an artist. They do sketches and other types of art — which you can find at their portfolio website thefishcrow.com. They also have a science fiction webcomic at crowblogs.com. Supporting their Patreon gets you access to their private sketches and abstract concept work. You can find their Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thefishcrow, that’s https://www.patreon.com/thefishcrow. Back to the show.
    • [fading swirl noise]
  • 21:05 Microsoft to hold Surface keynote in London next month
    • Cristian suggests hopefully that there might be a Surface Phone announced at the event
    • Snapdragon + Windows devices may be announced
    • Cristian talks about how Windows 10 is converging across devices
  • 27:25 Picking out marketing copy in technology reviews
    • Exhibit A – Is this marketing or a proper review?
      • Nokia sponsored the reviewer’s trip
      • Excessive praise and no negative points mentioned
      • Cristian suggests watching out for the tone of the video
        • Some YouTubers are not great actual critics
        • Cristian suggest checking out Erica Griffin as an example of a phone reviewer who is not ad-funded and is on Patreon
        • Sadiq suggests that some psychology may be at play
    • Trusting the reviewer and/or outlet
      • Cristian suggests visiting a site, turning off ad-block and seeing how many ads there are, which might suggest that the site is a content farm
      • Sadiq suggests watching out for posts that are glorified spec sheets vs. an actual critique
      • Cristian suggests watching out for excessive use of glowing adjectives
    • “Hands-on” vs. proper review
      • Sadiq explains game review embargoes
      • Cristian and Sadiq talk about the funding models of various tech news sites