Andrew Romero is a North Carolina-based journalist specializing in Android and Google news, reviews, and in-depth analysis. With a keen eye for detail honed from his previous career as a CNC machinist, Andrew possesses a unique appreciation for hardware and the intricate engineering behind the technology we use daily.
He brings this passion to his coverage, offering insightful perspectives on the latest devices, software updates, and the evolving Google ecosystem. When he’s not diving into the world of tech, Andrew can be found tackling the trails on his mountain bike, enjoying the natural beauty of his home state of North Carolina alongside his wife.
Andrew is active on Twitter – @chaosromero – but can also be found on Threads – @organizedchaos50.
Emails are open at andrew@9to5mac.com
Google Wallet introduced something called ID pass in late 2024. The new feature allows users to add their US passport to Google Wallet like a digital ID, and it provides some convenient benefits even if you don’t plan on using it all of the time.
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Pokemon Go has had an exceptionally wide reach over the last few years. Since launching in 2016, it has become one of the most successful mobile games on Android and iOS with a cult following to this day. The team at Pokemon Go has announced that a new owner will be buying the rights to the game, though they suggest the current dev team will remain unchanged.
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Sports scores show up by default via the Now Bar in Samsung’s One UI 7 build, but tailoring those settings can be a bit of a pain. A new update to Samsung’s AOD makes that integration a little better with Now Bar and adds a guide to set up sports integration with Google.
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The Pixel 9a is expeted to be released later this month, so that means more leaks are bound to show up as we approach the launch. A new Pixel 9a leak surfaces, showing off the camera in action during a Lucha Libre match.
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One UI 7 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and the beta version has been the only taste most users—other than S25 users—have had. A new tip indicates that Samsung may release One UI 7 in its stable form for the Galaxy S24, omitting any further beta updates. In reality, we don’t know what Samsung’s plans could be next.
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The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the most expensive phone from Google right now, at least, out of the ones that don’t fold. Through an insane Best Buy deal, the Pixel 9 Pro XL was briefly $500 off, but it seems that was a short-lived event or a glitch.
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Samsung’s update approach has been all over the place after what was a period of consistent updates over the last couple of years. Samsung’s internal testing of One UI 8 based on Android 16 mirrors the timeline of One UI 6, which was the last time the company was on track.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is an outlier among the company’s most recent lineup. It wasn’t released with the familiar party of three that users are used to seeing. Instead, The S25 Edge is a standalone release with some mysterious characteristics, like a lighter weight, obviously thinner body, and a price tag that apparently falls right around what the Galaxy S25+ costs.
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One UI 7 is finally starting to appear on more devices than the Galaxy S25. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the next device to receive the beta version, and it’s available to download now.
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One UI 7 still hasn’t made it’s way to most devices, even though Samsung is actively proclaiming that the software is soon to roll out to users. Still, it seems the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has gotten access to One UI 7 before publicly available, and new photos showcase what the OS will bring to Samsung’s most premium tablet.
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1Password is one of the most comprehensive password managers available to users, housing some of the best features available, like Passkey compatibility. The latest add from 1Password is a new location-based suggestion feature called “nearby items.”
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Google’s presence at MWC 2025 in Barcelona has not gone unnoticed. The company made a few announcements on future projects and while there, Google has collected two MWC awards from GLOMO, including one for the Pixel 9 Pro.
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The YouTube app for TV — not to be confused with YouTube TV — is reportedly looking to take on a redesign in order to make more paid content available to users. This move would put the app in line to compete with other paid content providers like Amazon Prime Video or Disney+.
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It takes some effort on every Galaxy device to tune notifications so that we don’t become bombarded with alerts at all waking moments. One UI 7 provides an avenue for that, as well as other advanced options to ensure you’re seeing the alerts you actually care about and none you don’t. This quick guide will take you through those settings.
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Google TV is heavily leaning towards offering a more catered experience. This was evident at CES 2025, where the company showed off new features that bring the OS to life a little more. In a recent survey hosted by the company, Google TV detailed the possible addition of Gemini Live, giving a little insight into what can be expected.
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Manufacturers are making improvements in battery capacity at a higher rate than we’ve seen in the past few years, with many considering the switch to silicon-carbon. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn’t seem to be a part of that trend, with a small improvement in battery capacity that isn’t enough to get excited about.
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The Nothing Phone (3a) series has gone official, and with it, Nothing promises an extended 6 years of updates, the longest it has offered to date. This promise is slightly different than we’ve been seeing from other brands, though, as the company only promises 3 years of Android upgrades over that 6-year span.
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Samsung’s Good Lock brings further functionality to Galaxy devices through optional UI functions. The Good Lock app itself is getting an update, and so are the modules within.
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Security is a top priority for password apps and one way to ensure that is to allow users to wipe their own password databases if needed. Google Password Manager for Android may add a “Delete all data” option so users can purge sensitive data in certain situations.
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The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are on display at MWC in Barcelona, offering a detailed look at the mid-range devices. This comes a day before the company actually plans to announce the phones to the public.
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The Galaxy Tab FE series has largely been a success, with the S9 FE becoming one of the best affordable Android tablets on the market. Samsung is planning on offering two models, again, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and FE+. Recent leaks have uncovered details surrounding both, showcasing some promising specs.
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The smartphone market would have you believe that tri-fold devices, whether released or in concept, are supposed to be massive. Some new entrants would have you believe the exact opposite. Infinix’s new Zero Series Mini Tri-fold concept unfolds to be the size of a regular phone.
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In partnership with Google, the Metro Transit Authority took to tying several Google Pixel phones to subway cars in New York in order to track data. The experiment was part of the MTA’s need to automate and expand track-safety inspections and repair, and tying a few Pixels to a train car seemed the best place to start.
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It’s becoming much more common for Samsung to offer these boosted trade-in deals for devices, but the key is waiting until these deals are live, considering they’re actually very good. Right now, Samsung is making it possible to grab the Galaxy Watch Ultra for as little as $250.
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