You see the names pop up all the time on the site, but what really makes the PhoneDog crew tick when they're not hard at work writing about phones? Welcome to Inside the Dog Pound, where we profile the members of the PhoneDog editorial team.
Twitter: @PhoneDog_Sydney
My initial foray into the mobile technology field (besides having it as a hobby) was as a freelance writer for Examiner.com as the Dallas Gadgets Examiner. I covered the news for all technology and also did reviews. Since I had no way of getting free review products from companies, I would review gadgets that I already had, I would try to purchase the ones that weren't too pricey, or I would do hours of research on a product and write a overview/review. I then came into contact with PhoneDog who was looking for a new editor and the rest is history!
As the Teen Lifestyle Editor, I cover phones that appeal to the budget-conscious demographic, typically teenagers but really anyone who fits that profile. Coverage of a phone includes an unboxing video, a first impressions article, a video review and a written review, along with any pertinent Dogfights. I also produce a weekly news round-up video called The Dog Pound and I host a weekly live show called PhoneDog Live. Both shows give me a chance to share knowledge, news, and opinions, while keeping my personality involved. It's also pretty much a requirement to keep track of all of the latest news and trends in mobile technology and the businesses that occupy that space.
The knowledge and experience required. There are many people out there who know a lot about phones; most of our readers and viewers fit into that category. However, our job requires more than just a general knowledge of mobile technology and "specs". In order to accurately evaluate products and cover the industry, we must have an in-depth knowledge of devices, hardware components, wireless technology, telecommunication standards, each and every mobile OS, and more. I encourage anyone who is interested in joining the ranks of gadget reviewers to give it a shot, but keep in mind that good reviews don't happen by accident.
The amount of time and money people spend trying to keep up with it and how much they care about it; the lack of diversity and the lack of support for those who try to maintain it.
Sports, mostly basketball. I love watching and playing basketball. The court is a haven of peace for me. (That sounds really corny, but it's true.) I generally just love being outside. When I was a kid, whenever I felt sick, I would go outside and sometimes it would help me feel better. My newest hobby is Fantasy Football. My husband and I joined a league and I've been obsessing over stats and projections in preparation for the Draft ever since.
I love Italian food so I suppose pizza would be the most generic option. But really just anything Italian.
I switch back and forth between the HTC HD7 and the HTC One S. My HD7 is so old but I'm stubbornly not wasting my money upgrading until Windows Phone 8 comes out.
Ooh, tough one. It's between the original Samsung Galaxy S, the LG Chocolate Touch (it was the first phone I reviewed for PhoneDog), and the myTouch 3G Slide. Something about all of those phones captivated me, though I think I would pick the Galaxy S as my favorite of all time. It was the first smartphone that just made me go, "Wow". Undeniably awesome in every way.
Some old school favorites would be the classic Nokia phones - the 6610i, 6110, or 3310. Not only could you make calls, but you could play games too! Woah!
Apple Macbook Pro with a 19-inch Acer monitor I got for 40 bucks on Craigslist (I pick my battles with gadgets and money), Apple Magic Mouse (I'm on the computer so much that a normal mouse was starting to give my hand some problems), Sony Playstation 3, Amazon Kindle Fire.
I love musicals and musical theater. My dream car is a Mazda 6 (aim high, I know). My mother died of breast cancer when I was 12. I have two older sisters and one younger half-sister. I broke my arm when I was six in an attempt to fly (SPOILER: It didn't work). I met my husband when I was 17 and we got married when we were 22. I'm shy and introverted. Trust me.
This is a tough one. I have two favorites: Italy and Seattle, Washington. Italy is just an awesome place to be. Everything is so old and historic and the language is just beautiful. Not to mention the fact that the shopping scene is straight up freakin' amazing. Seattle is so fresh and different. The weather is nice (when it's not raining) and everything is green! There's so many trees and plants everywhere. Actually, can I add one more? Paris. It's so perfect! Every picture you take is frame-worthy. It's amazing.
