Daniel Allen-Reporter and Author

Daniel Allen

Reporter and Author

Contributor Since November, 2021
Expertise
e ink, health, explainer
  • 309
    articles
  • 140
    News
  • 40
    Features
  • 13
    Lists
  • 105
    Guides
  • 11
    Reviews
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https://github.com/dkallen78

About Daniel Allen

Daniel writes guides on how to use the internet, explainers on how modern technology works, and the occasional smartwatch or e-reader review. He especially likes deep diving into niche topics that require more than scratching the surface (check out his explainers on mobile photography). He's been writing in newspapers, magazines, and blogs for over 20 years writing hard news, entertainment, and science stories.

When not writing, he enjoys reading science fiction, playing music, and raising a rambunctious toddler. The devices you'll find him using every day are his Pixel 4a (he'll upgrade in 2024, ignore this story), Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook, and Amazon Fire HD 10. Eventually he's going to upgrade his Ender 3 to direct drive so he can print TPU...

What was your first phone and what do you remember about it?

"My first phone was a random flip phone sometime around 2004. At the time, I wanted to upgrade to a phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard so I didn't have to use the number pad to send texts. I was a bit hesitant to move on to a proper smartphone because I didn't (and still don't, honestly) like the touchscreen typing experience. Perhaps the greatest innovation in mobile phone tech at this time was the standardization of the charging port. Proprietary charging cables suck."

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

"I am really passionate about explaining how technology works and the science behind it. Lately I've been learning everything I can about reflective display technologies like electrophoretic e-ink displays and reflective/transflective LCDs. I think it's a super-interesting niche that will be growing as more people spend more time with their devices.

I'm also a long-time gamer so I jump at the chance to be the resident expert on a game like Vampire Survivors or Pocket City 2."

smartwatch-health-efficacy-ap-hero

Why blood pressure is so hard for smartwatches to measure

galaxy-flip-4-camera-stand

Does megapixel count matter for smartphones?

Latest

A hand holding a phone showing the Motion Photo feature working on a picture
How to turn off motion photo on your Android phone
Samsung

Don't like moving images? You can disable them on your phone

2
Illustration of the Google Wallet logo surrounded by icons for location, settings, and transaction history.
Google Wallet not working? Here are a few quick fixes
Google Wallet

Trouble with the tap? Here's how you can fix your payment problems

5
An Amazon truck against a screenshot of the Amazon homepage
How to change the shipping address on an Amazon order
Amazon

Do send your package to a stranger

The back of the Fire Phone laying on a table.
How to delete a credit or debit card from your Amazon account
Amazon

Someday, you might change your mind about which cards you want to give Amazon access to

1
Smartphone screen displaying app version details
How to roll back to an older version of an app on Android
Android

Now with instructions for app bundles

2
Onyx Boox Note Air3 C home page
Top 5 E Ink-friendly apps for your Android e-reader
Android Apps

Get the most out of your Android E Ink e-reader with these helpful apps

1
A smartphone screen with the Android logo, and a crashed rocket next to it featuring a launcher icon.
3 reasons the golden age of third-party launchers is over
android launcher

The launcher is dead. Long live the launcher!

37
Broken Firefox logo being uninstalled.
How to ditch Firefox without moving to Blink-based browsers like Chrome
Firefox

There's more to Gecko than just Firefox

16
Photo of Apple TV 4K screen showing a selection of streaming apps.
Why we keep paying for subscription streaming services and how to break the cycle
Streaming media

Are you sure you need that YouTube Premium subscription?

6
Some e-readers and the Adobe Digital Editions logo next to them.
3 e-reader brands that support Adobe Digital Editions
Ereaders

Better the DRM you know or the DRM you don't?

3
Supernote Nomad writing tablet viewed from the back with clear cover
Supernote takes a page out of Framework’s playbook with new DIY tools
Tablets

From 3D print files to crafting guides

Some Kindles side by side and some books next to them.
Every Kindle you can buy right now, ranked
Amazon Kindle

Biggest isn't always best

4
Several buttons side by side and a hand pressing the central button.
Why the history of the push button is deeper than you think
buttons

From moral panic to modern convenience

smartphone on multicolored background
5 uses for old tech gadgets you probably have lying around the house
Smartphones

Save your old tech from the trash heap

DeepSeek logo on a red and yellow gradient background
What is DeepSeek, the AI side project that's upsetting the status quo?
AI & Machine Learning

And why is everyone talking about it?

3
three smartphones on blue background
6 new phones we hope to see at MWC 2025
mwc

And some big ideas that will define the show

Microchip die from TSMC
Trump's Taiwan tariffs could pack a Pixel 10 price hike after Tensor's transition to TSMC
Taiwan

Get your new phone while you can still afford it

5
Kobo Clara Colour over library shelf background
4 sites to find thousands of free books for your e-reader
eBooks

Save your money for more important things

10
Ayaneo 3 Retro Power color on desk
Ayaneo unleashes its most powerful Windows gaming handheld yet

Accepting pre-orders now

Amazon Kindle 2024 in hand in front of leafy plant
Review: Amazon’s basic Kindle 2024 is at the pinnacle of its weight class
Amazon Kindle

But it’s far from perfect

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