Max Weinbach
Contributing since June, 2020
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40articles
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About Max Weinbach
Freelance Writer for Android Police. Mostly a Samsung guy. My Twitter is @MaxWinebach, Instagram is mweinbach, and my email is max@androidpolice.com.
Latest Articles
Galaxy Wearable update reveals new Galaxy Buds in the works (APK Teardown)
Samsung's 5th pair of earbuds in the Galaxy Buds lineup
The Galaxy Wearable app has been the hub for all of Samsung's wearable hardware, going back the past few years now. And that means that every time a new device is released, Samsung has to add support for it within that app. Sometimes, if we look really closely, we end up lucky enough to spot the changes Samsung makes in anticipation of a still-unannounced device. Sure enough, Samsung's latest Galaxy Wearable update has dropped, and we've managed to spot some references to the upcoming Galaxy Buds2.
Fossil Gen 5 LTE Review: Rehashing last year's hardware
It's more of the same, but with LTE
Google's Wear OS is not in the best state right now, but it's serviceable if you want a smartwatch that integrates deeply with your phone. When you decide to make do with Wear OS, Fossil is usually there to offer an array of acceptable devices. Over a year ago, we reviewed the Fossil Gen 5 and it was one of the best Wear OS smartwatches at the time. Since then, very little has happened in the Wear OS world. That's why the Fossil Gen 5 LTE is exciting: it's one of the few LTE-enabled Wear OS devices on the market, and LTE on watches can be a real game-changer, in my experience.
Oppo's new microscope camera will let you see things you've never seen with a smartphone
Extremely up close and personal
Today OPPO launched the OPPO Find X3 Pro. It's a classic OPPO flagship with the latest high-end specs, flashy design, and a gorgeous display. And while the phone's software is classic OPPO, for better or worse, the cameras are some of the most impressive I've seen on a phone in a long time.
The Galaxy S21 is the only Android phone that doesn't suck at Snapchat
One little step towards a better Snapchat
Snapchat on Android has historically proven to be pretty terrible when it comes to camera image quality. For years, the app would just be screenshotting the camera viewfinder and using that directly. It was effective (and arguably necessary based on the sheer amount of Android phones and differences in software between them) but sure didn't look too great. Now with the new S21 series, it seems like Snapchat is finally playing nice, and giving us some of the highest-quality Snaps we've ever seen.
Samsung Pay is just not worth using without MST
The end of MST payments is the end of good reasons to use Samsung Pay
The title says it all: Without MST support, there's just no reason to use Samsung Pay. Over the past year or so, Samsung has effectively stripped Samsung Pay of its most compelling features, but its saving grace was MST — the technology that allowed Samsung phones to mimic a magnetic credit card strip, making them compatible with legacy payment terminals. But Samsung's latest smartphones, the Galaxy S21 series, debuted without MST this year — and all that's left of Samsung Pay is a bloated, ad infested app that compares poorly to Google Pay.
Microsoft Surface Pro X review, one month later: ARM laptops are the future, but Windows is stuck in the past
Here's hoping Windows on ARM gets better.
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From the new Apple M1 powered Macs to the Microsoft Surface Pro X I've been using, ARM-based computers are the new craze in mobile computing. The Surface Pro X was Microsoft's second big consumer push to get into the ARM platform and it really nails the essentials. Microsoft provides a fast and stable Windows on ARM experience, which is impressive despite the underpowered hardware on Microsoft’s latest SQ2-based machine. At the same time, some important features are missing while we wait for proper 64-bit emulation to arrive. That makes the price harder to swallow, but I've still really liked using the Surface Pro X.
AirPods Max review: Great headphones with a catch
You really have to be in the Apple ecosystem for these to make sense
Apple has become a big name in wireless headphones with AirPods, which are easily the most popular and recognizable earbuds worldwide. AirPods provide reliable connectivity and an all-around great wireless earbud experience, but the sound quality can't compete with a nice set of over-ear headphones. That's what the AirPods Max are about.Apple's recently released AirPods Max are its first over-ear headphones. They feature 20 hours of battery with active noise cancellation and transparency, Bluetooth 5.0, and an incredibly premium build. All for an MSRP of $549. These are probably some of the best headphones on the market, but the price and availability do put them out of reach for most people. And like most Apple products, the AirPods Max work best if you're using them inside the Apple hardware ecosystem.
AirMusic lets you use Apple's AirPlay on Android without root
A bit of ecosystem crossover
Apple's ecosystem has historically been walled off to anything non-Apple. Recently the company's been a little bit better about allowing more TV manufactures into its AirPlay and Apple TV platforms, but outside of oddballs like the HTC 10 working with AirPlay, support has been notably absent from Android. Thankfully, a cheeky app developer was able to work around this and get us AirPlay on Android — with a few caveats.
Samsung just updated one of its phone apps to serve you even more ads
Buying a flagship Samsung phone is turning into a poisoned chalice
Ads are the worst, yet we see them everywhere. They fund the content we consume, for free, on a daily basis. It's one thing to receive ads on a website you are going to for free, but it's quite another when an OEM goes out of its way to force an app onto your phone in order to serve you more ads. Sadly, that is exactly what Samsung just did with its new Samsung Visit In update through the Galaxy Store.
The Galaxy S21 could finally get Google Discover on the homescreen
Samsung's finally giving us a better option
Samsung is going to be announcing the Galaxy S21 soon, and along with that, its latest One UI 3.1 system software. One UI 3.1 will be a slight iteration to what is currently rolling out to the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series right now. Changes are set to include new camera features like Director's View, new display features like Eye Comfort Shield, and the arrival of the Google Discover feed on One UI Home.
Main Galaxy S20 series disappears from T-Mobile and AT&T online stores
Though the smaller S20 will come back to T-Mobile
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T-Mobile has stopped selling the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra in its online storefront. All three devices were unceremoniously removed from T-Mobile's online store sometime over the past several days. Calls to local stores confirm that they're still able to sell what's available in current inventory, but aren't ordering new stock for any of these models. T-Mobile has confirmed to us that the smaller Galaxy S20 will eventually make a return to the carrier's online store soon, though the S20+ and S20 Ultra will be in-store exclusives as stock remains for now.
Here are the official Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra teasers
Phantom Violet is one sexy color
Samsung's next-gen Galaxy S21 series is just about a month away, and with that official debut coming up fast, renders of the device are inevitably going to start leaking out faster and faster. We've already looked at plenty of unofficial renders based on device schematics, but what about the real deal: When do we get to see some actual imagery from Samsung itself? Luckily, we have just that kind of exclusive to share with you, and have managed to obtain promo reels for the retail launch of the Galaxy S21 series.
Exclusive: Specs and features of Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphones
Everything we know about the Galaxy S21 series
The Galaxy S21 launch is just a few months out, which means it’s a great time for leaks. Today, we have exclusive information regarding the specifications and features of the upcoming phones, which we have now confirmed through multiple sources. Android Police also has seen official press renders of Samsung's next-generation Galaxy devices, but cannot publish them, in order to protect our sources' identities.
Bose Frames review: Look better than they sound
It's a gimmick, but a pretty slick one
I've always been really interested in fun products — even if the product isn't remotely practical or "good" in the traditional sense. Sometimes a truly bleeding-edge device can give us a glimpse of the future, regardless of its flaws. That's what made me interested in the new Bose Frames when they were released a few weeks ago.The idea of Bose Frames is to combine sunglasses and earbuds into one product by putting directional speakers in the temple of the shades right above the ear. They are the most unusual audio gimmick I've seen in a long time, and the interesting design and genuine enjoyment I get from this product makes it hard to regret my purchase. Still, most people would do better with separate sunglasses and earbuds.
Apple's new MagSafe Charger actually works on the Z Fold 2
It works with magnets and stuff
MagSafe is Apple's new wireless charging tech for the iPhone 12 series. It uses magnets to connect the charger to the phone, basically making it a fancier way to plug in your phone with some minor accessory support. While most people assumed it would effectively only work (correctly — as in, magnetically) on the iPhone when it was announced, turns out, that $2000 Z Fold2 actually came with some hidden added value.
Xiaomi's new Mi 10T lineup is lean on your wallet but heavy on features
Xiaomi Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T Lite, and Mi Watch promise great value for their prices and categories
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Xiaomi is known for its cheap phones, whether they come under its own brand name or its Redmi and Poco sub-brands. Its devices provide great hardware with decent software support for pretty low prices. Today, the company is launching 3 new phones in the Mi 10T series, the Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, and Mi 10T Lite.
Here's absolutely every new thing in Samsung OneUI 3.0
There are many, many small changes (and some not so small ones)
When One UI launched about 2 years ago, it was a huge deal. It was the next evolution in Samsung’s software design and user experience. When One UI 2.0 launched last year with Android 10, there wasn’t a major design overhaul. It was the basic One UI design with the new Android 10 features. This year, that changes.
Here's the changelog for Samsung's first One UI 3.0 beta, based on Android 11
Lots of new features you can’t get quite yet
With Android 11 launching just last week, many phone-makers are rushing to get their various versions of the platform out into users hands for testing in beta programs. Samsung is no exception. In a very early and surprising move, Samsung has already pushed the One UI 3.0 pre-beta to a a few select partnered developers. Here's the official changelog for the beta.
A good wallpaper can make a phone feel whole. It's what really ends up bringing the visual experience of a phone together. That's why wallpapers are so important, especially on devices from phone-makers like Samsung. Sometimes Samsung make mistakes, like uploading an unreleased device's firmware really early, and that lets us dig through it to find these great wallpapers.
Ads are taking over Samsung's Galaxy smartphones — and it needs to stop
When you buy a $2,000 smartphone, you shouldn't be the product
I've used a Samsung Galaxy smartphone almost every day for nearly 4 years. I used them because Samsung had fantastic hardware that was matched by (usually) excellent software. But in 2020, a Samsung phone is no longer my daily driver, and there's one simple reason that's the case: Ads.