Ian Carlos Campbell-Reporter

Ian Carlos Campbell

Reporter

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Screenwriting | Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
smartphones, tablets, headphones
  • 339
    articles
  • 35
    News
  • 103
    Features
  • 48
    Lists
  • 115
    Guides
  • 18
    Reviews
  • 20
    Deals

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About Ian Carlos Campbell

Ian Campbell is a reporter based in San Diego who writes features, interviews, guides and reviews for Pocket-lint. Before he spent his days covering great products for Pocket-lint readers, Ian was an associate editor at Inverse. His work has also appeared in Engadget, Input, dot.LA, and The Verge.

Prior to joining the world of online media, Ian received a BA in Screenwriting from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. His background in film and television and interest in technology has made Ian a jack-of-all-trades in all the ways entertainment touches the products we use every day, and particularly the screens we place in our home, keep in our pockets, wear on our wrist, and strap on our face.

What was your first phone?

My first phone was a cheap LG feature phone that I don't remember the name of and mostly neglected in favor of my iPod Touch. The first phone I actually cared about was my mom's chunky hand-me-down first generation iPhone, one of many things that sparked my interest in technology in the first place.

When did your interest in technology begin?

I played computer strategy and simulation games growing up but getting my parent's old gadgets (mainly old iPods and an iPhone) was the real thing that that got me interested in how consumer technology is made and how it works. That lead to me reading tech blogs, following leaks and rumors, and buying quite a few gadgets of my own, setting the groundwork for what I do now.

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

Smartphones, wearables, tablets, e-readers, VR/AR hardware, game consoles. In general I'm also really interest in tech that requires us to change our behavior to use.

Latest

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Why making my own PDFs is changing how I use the reMarkable Paper Pro

The premium reMarkable E Ink tablet has made me think about file formats a lot more than I expected.

1
A wallpaper app running on an Android phone over an orange background.
How I customize my Android home screen to make it truly mine

Google's mobile operating system gives you a lot of leeway to make your phone more personal, and a lot more beautiful.

Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL sitting on a table
Here's how the Pixel launcher turns me into a productivity pro

You have all the tools you need to turn your phone from something that distracts you into something that works for you.

A pink Pixel 9 XL on a blue background next to a green desktop computer icon.
The Pixel 9's desktop mode offers a broken, but tantalizing glimpse of a future I want

There's no reason Samsung should be the only company turning smartphones into desktop computers.

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My 5 favorite iPad photo editing apps that are better than Photoshop

Adobe makes excellent tablet software, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for it to get a similar photo editing experience.

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I found the closest thing to Letterboxd for video games

You actually have multiple apps to choose from if you’re looking for a “Letterboxd for video games.” Here are some of the best.

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How to add MagSafe to the iPhone 16e - because you'll definitely want to

Apple's magnets are missing from its newest iPhone, but you can get them back with the right accessory.

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The best apps for your Pixel that you can’t get in the Play Store

Google's Play Store has millions of apps, but with Android's ability to sideload apps, you don't have to limit yourself to only that.

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This all-in-one productivity app will change the way you use your phone

Anytype can be a home for notes, contacts, tasks, and much more across phones, tablets, and computers.

A hand holding an Android phone with the Google Wallet app open over a multicolored background.
5 Google Wallet features you need to be using more

Google Wallet works perfectly fine for tap-to-pay, but the Android app can store a lot more if you let it.

A hand holding a Galaxy S25 Ultra with Gemini open over a dark background.
Your smartphone is the only Trojan horse AI has left

If dedicated gadgets don’t catch on, and businesses can’t find a use for it, getting normal people to use AI is the only way it can catch on.

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Amazon's latest Kindle tweak is also a crackdown on DRM-free ebooks

Removing Download & Transfer via USB ends support for some older Kindles, but it also makes it much harder to remove the DRM from ebooks.

A Pixel 9 Pro over a speckled green background.
6 must-try Pixel features you probably haven't heard of

Google's flagship smartphones are packed with useful software features, but not all of them are as well known as others.

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Apple's lamp research prototype over a blue background.
Apple's new home robot could finally be the robo-pet every '90s kid dreamed of

The company is interested in "expressive" robotics, and it might be the missing ingredient that unlocks whatever comes after robot vacuums.

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How I jailbreak my Kindle to access thousands of books

With a little work you can set your own custom screensavers and even add new reading apps.

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I tried DeepSeek and ChatGPT to find out which one is actually better

The AI assistants are similar in some ways, and vastly different in others. Here's which you should use.

An Android phone showing the DeepSeek whale logo over a multicolored background.
How to use DeepSeek, the Chinese alternative to ChatGPT

DeepSeek has been around for a few years, but recent advancements have made the AI assistant a compelling alternative to ChatGPT.

The Switch 2 in front of dots.
Nintendo may be hiding a Switch 2 secret in plain sight

Nintendo seems to be teasing Joy-Cons that can be used as a mouse, but the reason why might have nothing to do with PC gaming.

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6 Kindle tips and tricks you probably don't know about

Your e-reader has helpful features you might not have even touched yet.

The Logitech MX Creative Console dial pad and keypad sitting next to each on a desk.
Programmable buttons and a dial? Yes, they're worth the hassle for this console

Logitech's new MX Creative Console lets you make the interface that works best for you.

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