Andy Boxall

I write things for people to (hopefully) read, but I feel so self conscious pointing people that may be part of a story towards it. But I feel I should, especially when it’s positive. I want to say:

“I wrote this, mentioned you, but i really don’t want you to go and read it. Just know it exists.”

I hated BlackBerry, but I'm right behind a wild plan to bring it back again A well-known name in the BlackBerry community has a plan to bring the brand back

Over the years, my disdain for BlackBerry has been well documented. I was once even on an online death list because of it (really).
But times change, and I’m all for this plan to bring it back (again). Why? The people behind it.

www.androidpolice.com/theres-a-pla...

I have never written the word "squircle" so many times as I have done over the last few weeks.

Also, autocorrect thinks I'm trying to write "squirrel" every time, and I'm sure one will slip through at some point, meaning I'll be talking about Samsung's squirrel-shaped smartwatch...

Time for coffee, and to sit at the end of the garden and work. Luckily, there's just enough wi-fi range!

Tonight, I walked around a pub car park looking at Porsches. There were many lovely ones, but only one was mine.

We dive deep into the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to uncover the secrets behind its new normality Think the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just a thinner Z Fold 6? Think again, as Samsung explains just how much is brand new

Just how new is the Galaxy Z Fold 7? It's new new. There's more to this phone than it's thinness, as I found out when I talked to Samsung during the launch.

www.androidpolice.com/we-asked-sam...

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is Samsung's most polarizing smartwatch yet Call it a squircle, cushion, or just plain ugly, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's looks are going to divide opinion

I’m conflicted about the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The “cushion” shape is, um, challenging with the bezel and the lugs, and a bit awkward looking. The simpler Watch 8 does it better due to the slim, light, lug-free case. People will have opinions. Here’s mine.

www.androidpolice.com/samsung-gala...

I’m all set to watch people unpack Samsung stuff. For a “watch party,” the location is pretty grand.
#GalaxyUnpacked

The OnePlus Nord 5 made me question how much phone I really need The OnePlus Nord 5 is a great blend of performance and desirability, all for a reasonable price

I’m straight into reviewing phones at Android Police, and first on the list is the OnePlus Nord 5. What a gem, from performance to battery life, plus the new antenna array means it pulls in a 4G/5G signal like few others!

7 months into British Shorthair cat ownership, I’m learning that it just wants to be where I am, and if I’m not in the required place, it will bother me until I move there.
Today we’re in the garden, which thankfully seems to be to its liking.

Why Nothing needs to tread very carefully with the Phone 3’s reimagined Glyph lights The Glyph Matrix lights on the Nothing Phone 3 may cause an upset, if what we've seen from brands like Asus and OnePlus is anything to go by

Here’s a story from me headed into the big Nothing Phone 3 launch week. Oh, and it’s published over at Android Police, where you’ll find all my work going forward.
I’d be pleased if you read it:
www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phon...

The Cinematic Version of ARTMS Icarus is utterly astonishing. A fairy tale story with a horror twist, the visuals are haunting, eerie, stylish and at times, utterly beautiful. The jarring main choreography suits it perfectly. What a year for K-pop girl groups so far.
youtu.be/J-bEGflpV9k?...

I've got a Substack newsletter, as part of my efforts to write about a variety of new things. My second edition is still about tech, but it won't stay that way.
I'd be so pleased if you read it, and considered subscribing too!
open.substack.com/pub/andyboxa...

I opened the Bluesky app on my phone last night, and found a different site to when I last visited. In a good way, and with people I haven't spoken to in a while.
I've tried Threads for a while, but I don't get the feeling I want to "share" there. It looks different here. Should I stick around?

Perhaps, but as most of the games are pick-up-and-play, it think it will be even less time intensive than my Switch Lite, so I’ll be more inclined to use it.

I bought an Anbernic RG35XX H, and I’d forgotten Xenon 2: Megablast was released for the Gameboy. Super hard shoot’em up made even harder, but it still somehow works. I LOVED this on the Amiga, and I even bought Bomb the Bass’s album with the title track on it, which was only available on vinyl!

Lovely wintery walk in the park this morning. First time the lake has frozen, and the poor swans had no idea what to make of it.
📸: iPhone 16 Pro Max

Similar situation to me. This was the first and only time I’ve been near a swatch store since release, and I was not paying overs to get one. Now I have one, I’m REALLY glad I didn’t pay scalper’s premium.

I replaced Google Assistant for Amazon Alexa and haven't looked back | Digital Trends A year ago, I decided to switch from Google Assistant to Amazon Alexa for my smart home duties. Now, 12 months later, I reflect on whether it was a good move.

Alexa has shown me how easy and reliable smart homes can be.

In a returning tradition started way back with IZ*ONE, there are several Le Sserafim Easter eggs in this story....

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/i-replaced-google-assistant-for-amazon-alexa-and-havent-looked-back

We need to talk about this fantastic, industry-leading Motorola collab | Digital Trends Motorola's partnership with Pantone is far more impactful than I realized, and it took a gray phone to make me understand why it matters.

In which I talk far too enthusiastically about a grey smartphone, and also get to remind everyone what a great colour Porsche Crayon is.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/we-need-to-talk-about-this-fantastic-industry-leading-motorola-collaboration-pantone

I tried Apple Fitness Plus as a beginner and loved what I found | Digital Trends After three months using Apple Fitness Plus, I've learned a lot about the devices you need, the workouts, the trainers, and if it's worth a subscription or not.

Apple Fitness Plus is rather good, even for unfit people like me, and much to my surprise the trainers may be the best part.
This was fun to research and write!
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/i-tried-apple-fitness-plus-as-a-beginner-and-loved-what-i-found/

I tried 4 of the best earbud and phone combos. Here's which one you should use I tried the top wireless earbuds with matching phones to find out if brand loyalty matters, or if you can mix and match without concern.

This took a lot of work, but hopefully it helps someone out.
I also learned Samsung and Google have made a big mistake not making iOS apps for their earbuds.
www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/i-tri...

I like phone cameras, but *camera* cameras are also pretty good. This is from a Lumix GH5.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/ckzQipfwI9K3uJOOJi/200.gif

I’ve got this idea of a car club. Not secret exactly, just very exclusive. Not car or brand exclusive, but exclusive in the amount of people in it, and what they want out of it. Informal drives when we want. Maybe coffee, but maybe not. No pressure, no snobbery, and no racing.
1/2

How the iPhone 16 won the battle of the camera button | Digital Trends Two new smartphones approach secondary camera controls in very different ways, forcing me to choose between a futuristic option or the luxury of a button.

I write a phone photography column every two weeks, and this one gets phones and cars in to the mix, just as my original pitch intended, and my hobby horse of getting too involved in small design details.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-the-iphone-16-won-the-battle-of-the-camera-button/

I buy CDs and listen to them on an 18-year old hand-me-down Sony CD player and a pair of Focal Elegia headphones I got in a half price sale and honestly, I'm not sure it gets much better.
Oh, and Whiplash is Aespa's masterpiece.

My YouTube Music Recap confirms what I already knew. By far my favourite Kepler song, and probably going to be my favourite of the year too.
Happy yet melancholy, I couldn’t have wished for a better song for the original 9 to sing as their last together.

For the second time in 2024 I’m not in the UK. I’ve thought a lot about travel during both, work travel in particular.

I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel the same anymore. Or maybe I’m not the same.

One thing’s for sure, I miss taking photos in new places.
This was shot on the Oppo Find X8 Pro.

I caved when I was at Berlin airport recently and bought a Moonswatch. I only cared about the white Mission to the Moonphase version.
Like: It’s so light. Snoopy sleeps on the moon. The strap is way better than naysayers would have you believe.
Dislike: Snoopy is minuscule. The fact I bought it.

A sleeping cat

First Bluesky post, so it may as well introduce me and the latest member of the family. One week ago, I gave in and got a kitten. This is Yui, a British Shorthair, and she is 15 weeks old.

I suppose I’ll now add cats to the (short) list of other topics I’ll post about.