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Justin Duino

jaduino

I’m a writer for 9to5Google with a background in IT and Android development. While I have a soft spot for stock Android, I’m typically juggling two to three devices at once running both Android and iOS. My previous work can be seen on Phandroid, Android Central, and AndroidMeter. Email me at justin@jaduino.com. Tips are always welcome.

Connect with Justin Duino

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PSA: Don’t reply to that Essential Phone ‘order verification’ email, it’s a scam [Update]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 30 2017 - 12:00 am PT
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[Update] 4:31 pm 8/30: Andy Rubin has posted a blog post to explain that the incident was not a phishing scam but was, in fact, a customer service error. The company has apologized to the customers who were affected and have provided them with a year-long subscription to LifeLock.

If you placed an order for the Essential Phone, you might want to check your email. Someone is currently emailing customers asking for further verification before their order is shipped. If you did receive this email, do not respond and delete it…


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Would you buy Fitbit’s Ionic smartwatch over an Android Wear device? [Poll]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 28 2017 - 7:15 pm PT
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After Fitbit purchased Pebble last year, many anxious fans awaited the company’s next fitness-focused device that would ideally incorporate the features loved by the Pebble community. That day has come as Fitbit this morning unveiled the Ionic. While it may not be a Pebble replacement, it is the company’s first real smartwatch.

If you were to buy a smartwatch right now, would you purchase a Fitbit Ionic over an Android Wear device?


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Despite poor camera performance, would you buy the Essential Phone? [Poll]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 25 2017 - 5:08 pm PT
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When the initial Essential Phone reviews were published, there was a consensus that the handset’s weakest point was the camera. Once we got our hands on the phone, we had to agree with others were saying, especially with the camera’s low-light performance.

Do you still plan to purchase the Essential Phone despite its poor camera performance?


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Essential vs Note 8: How does the newbie compare to Samsung’s latest & greatest

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 25 2017 - 10:18 am PT
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We’ve now had the chance to go hands-on with two of this fall’s latest flagship smartphones: the Essential Phone and Samsung Galaxy Note 8. While one comes from a brand new company backed by Andy Rubin, the other is a part of a long-existing line of smartphones that have a loyal audience. Let’s see how the two compare…


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Are the dual cameras and S-Pen worth the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s high price tag? [Poll]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 23 2017 - 5:47 pm PT
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Well before today’s announcement of the Galaxy Note 8, many speculated that the premium handset would cost a pretty penny. Now that it’s official, we know that the device will cost around $930, well above Samsung’s other flagship smartphones and also the competition.

Are you thinking about buying the Galaxy Note 8 despite its high price tag?


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Is the ZenFone AR enough to actually interest you in Tango? [Poll]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 22 2017 - 6:59 pm PT
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Tango is Google’s first step into augmented reality which uses highly sensitive cameras and sensors to scan its surroundings. The latest Tango-enabled device is the Asus ZenFone AR which is meant to get the AR platform into more consumer hands. Unfortunately, our review of the handset finds that it likely has more flaws than anything else for most people, especially with a $600+ price tag.

Does the ZenFone AR offer enough to get you to use Tango or are you more interested in using other mobile AR technologies?


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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 22 2017 - 9:50 am PT
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Full hardware specifications for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Note 8, the successor to last year’s recalled Note 7. Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S8/S8+, the Note 8 features an all-glass backing and a Samsung’s “Infinity Display.” The handset also comes with a slightly smaller 3300mAh battery compared to last year’s model and dual cameras to capture photos with depth and wide-angle effects.

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How to install Android O factory images on Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and Pixel C

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 21 2017 - 2:35 pm PT
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With the official unveiling of the Android Oreo statue, Google has begun pushing out OTA updates to some of its Pixel and Nexus devices. Initial reports show the updates either failing or taking hours to install, but thankfully Google has released Android 8.0 system images. Here’s how to manually install Android Oreo…


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LG V30: Behind the scenes on the creation of the handset’s wallpapers [Video]

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 18 2017 - 5:50 am PT
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At this point, LG is no longer trying to keep the V30 a secret. Between leaked photos and video of the phone and the company already talking about the handset’s new software, all there’s left to do is build hype for the new phone before its announcement at IFA.

LG’s latest attempt at doing just that is a behind the scenes look at the creation of the handset’s wallpapers…


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Essential Phone specs: 5.7-inch ‘bezel-less’ display, Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, more

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 18 2017 - 3:14 am PT
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After hinting at a new device, Andy Rubin’s start-up, Essential, announced the Essential PH-1 (Phone). Unlike other OEMs, Essential is all about keeping only the essential aspects of a smartphone. This means almost-stock Android, no pre-install bloatware, and quality materials such as titanium and ceramic to make up the handset.

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How to make Allo for web look identical to Google Hangouts

Avatar for Justin Duino Aug 17 2017 - 7:40 pm PT
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While many in the Android and Google-fan communities used and loved (well, sometimes loved) Hangouts for messaging others from mobile and desktop, Google is now shifting the app’s focus to enterprise. In its place is Allo, which only started working on the web this week. Although we can’t help you get Hangouts back, we can help you make Allo look similar to the Hangouts web client…


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