Jerry Hildenbrand
Jerry has been a smartphone user since the BlackBerry days, having moved through the tech’s progression from Palm to Nokia to Apple and Android. He even waited in line at a Washington, DC T-Mobile store to buy the first Android phone. Combined with an Electrical Engineering degree and years of experience working with machine vision and learning equipment all over the world he has a passion for knowing how tech products work and what matters to the people buying them. He’s been in this industry longer than most of the companies we cover. With 15 years of experience writing about tech he has seen how smart devices have morphed from a luxury to a necessity and offers a unique perspective on both the good and bad consequences of it all. Currently covering the broader ecosystems of hardware and software products, his industry contacts and experience help break down the decisions tech giants make and the products they offer into the most important thing: how this affects us, the consumers and end-users of the products and services. With no affinity to one company Jerry can help you find the tech that’s right for you and help you understand what it can do for you. When things go south, he can also help you fix it or point you in the right direction for help. In his personal life Jerry loves to tinker in his workshop and work on his antique truck.
Latest articles by Jerry Hildenbrand
This Creality 3D printer is $130 off and works from my phone so I'm buying it
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
My no fuss hobby I love to tinker with things but can appreciate stuff when it just works, too.
Google opening the Play Store to Epic won't go the way Judge Donato seems to think
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Monopoly power The Judge for Epic v Google round 1 has ruled that Google has to "open the Google Play store" and Google is already working on the appeal.
Ask Jerry: What's the difference between cheap earbuds and expensive earbuds?
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!
How to shop wisely on Prime Day
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Android & Chill Prime Day means it's time to fire up your wallet and buy a ton of stuff. You probably shouldn't.
In the fight between Epic and Google, there are no 'good guys'
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Pot meet kettle Epic Games isn't fighting for you. It is fighting because it doesn't want to pay Google's payment processing fees.
Best Android TVs 2024
By Ted Kritsonis, Jerry Hildenbrand, Namerah Saud Fatmi last updated
Feast your eyes Android TV is a sleek and powerful smart TV operating system, and these TVs ship with it built right in. Here are the best Android TVs you should consider and why they're so great!
Your smartphone is more of a collaborative effort than you think
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Who and what Your phone uses technology from plenty of sources. Getting it all to play well together is only half the battle; doing it legally is equally important.
The Verizon outage showcases why satellite connections and 'disaster roaming' are important
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Look to the sky Verizon has gone down for millions, including people in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. It couldn't happen at a worse time.
Ask Jerry: Why is Bluetooth still so bad?
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!
The FTC is finally going after AI scammers
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Android & Chill Some reasonable regulations need to be placed on AI companies. Meanwhile, using current laws to go after the bad guys sounds good to me.
Meta's new AI features are only a privacy nightmare if you let them be
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Just say no Meta has introduced new AI features with the potential to collect, and potentially abuse, even more of your data if you say they are allowed to.
Sometimes your smartwatch is best off your wrist
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Oops A smartwatch isn't exactly delicate, but they're not as tough as that cheap Timex your dad wore.
There's nothing wrong with your new phone if it overheats on day one
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Let it be A lot of people worry because their brand-new phone warns them it's too hot right as they start using it. There's nothing to worry about and things are working as intended.
Ask Jerry: Where can I recycle my old phone or tablet?
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!
Life360 and the new Tile lineup deliver as promised. Should you use them?
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Android & Chill These are useful tools for some, but others see them as making it too easy for abusers.
The Google Arts & Culture app continues to amaze me
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Be fancy Google does some boneheaded and potentially evil things — all companies do — but it also produces one of my favorite smartphone apps.
When everything folds and flips and rolls, we're going to need better warranties
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
It's gonna break One day, phones that morph into different form factors will be the norm, and broken displays will be a much bigger deal.
RCS is finally here for the iPhone, and Google had nothing to do with it
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Messaging Apple's iOS 18 brings RCS messaging because China demanded it, not because of Google's online trolling.
Instagram Teen Accounts are more parental controls your kid can probably bypass whenever they like
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
this will never work If you don't trust your kids don't buy them a phone. Nothing is is going to work.
Ask Jerry: Can I swim laps with the Pixel Watch 2 without damaging it?
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!
The people complaining about the iPhone 16 were never going to buy one
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Android & Chill Any time we see a high-profile tech product launch, we get to hear about why it's so bad from the internet. I just ignore it.
Seeing a company like Google on trial over antitrust laws is a great thing
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
See you in court Anytime you see a big tech company getting hauled into court, you know the system is working as intended.
OpenAI is trying to fix how AI works and make it more useful
By Jerry Hildenbrand published
Better AI? OpenAI has released a preview of a new model designed to think before it tells you something wrong.
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