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
It’s understandable that any odd noise your phone starts to make can be construed as a fault or manufacturing defect. The Pixel 9 happens to make a loud rattling sound that rivals someone shaking a small bag of gravel, and the question comes up all too often. Here’s the thing: It’s supposed to do that.
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The Galaxy Watch heavily relies on tiles as one of the main ways wearers can access information from their devices, and they seem to do the job fine. Samsung wants to switch things up, according to new leaks suggesting that the company will introduce a new type of tile along with some updated designs for the Galaxy Watch with One UI 8.
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Google Home isn’t high on the ecosystem list that allows third-party manufacturers to display video feeds in-app. Now, Ecobee is one of just a few brands that can integrate video feeds from its doorbell directly through Google Home.
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Samsung is just coming out of the release of One UI 7, where a few road bumps made things a little more difficult than likely planned. According to new reports, the first beta version of One UI 8, based on Android 16, might launch sometime this month, as hard as that might be to believe.
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Netflix is getting a new look in Google TV with a UI change beyond modern aesthetics. The new design advertises an easier browsing experience with suggestions that act more like surge recommendations for your current mood. How Netflix knows your mood is up in the air.
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Since the Matter standard has taken off and incorporated all major smart home ecosystems, it has become easier to use devices without being tied to one system. The latest update aims to improve that experience with group-based QR codes for smart home packs and an easier legal experience with terms and conditions.
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Samsung recently announced that it was attempting to bring the Google Gemini side button shortcut to Galaxy A devices. In a recent update, the Galaxy A56 became the first device of the series to receive the Gemini integration.
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One UI 7 introduced us to the Now Bar on Galaxy phones. The feature showed promise but seemingly fell short of providing an at-a-glance information and action panel for a majority of phone features. In One UI 8, it looks like the Now Bar might actually be capable of more.
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Microsoft’s Surface lineup is getting a boost from its proprietary AI suite, along with some more affordable hardware. Surface PCs have long been good options for their size-to-power ratio, and a new set wants to take that a step further with NPUs built for more Copilot+ at a more reasonable price in the 2025 Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro.
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One UI 7 brings a lot of changes to Galaxy devices, and some, which are a matter of preference, seemed to have been changed without the user’s permission. One significant change in Samsung’s One UI 7 is the separation of Quick Settings and the notification panel. Here’s how to change it back.
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YouTube Premium has been expanding in a couple of ways over the last years, including adding tiers for families and students. A new YouTube Premium tier has appeared in select regions for groups of just two people, coming in at a lower cost than the full-fledged five-person offering.
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After over two decades of ups and downs for the video call platform, Microsoft is officially shutting down Skype. The platform boomed in the 2010s and has since become less appealing as an option among competitors like Zoom and other messaging tools.
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Samsung’s RAM Plus is essentially a solution to a limited amount of memory by offering virtual RAM. In One UI 8, the amount of RAM Plus each device will be allowed is going to be increased, which means faster and more capable devices.
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Google is looking to trim the fat when it comes to setting up your Google TV device for the first time. Showing up on a couple of TVs first, the new Google TV setup process will be a little easier to get through.
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Goods coming into the US from China are already taking a hit from tariffs. Security camera manufacturer Wyze has stated that it paid almost double the value of one shipment in tariffs alone. This will likely lead to raised prices for a company that has a reputation for selling inexpensive security gear.
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Android users have embraced Google’s Find My Device network, and it’s proven to be effective. As far as hardware is concerned, there are still only a handful of trackers available for Google’s FMD network. Google, for some reason, hasn’t developed its own tracker for a network it designed. There are a few reasons why it needs to design a Find My Device Tracker for Pixel.
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With the introduction of new, increased tariffs on incoming goods into the US, things are likely to get much more expensive. Using a price tracking tool online can help you determine what has and hasn’t increased in price. Here are some of our favorites.
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A focus has been placed on editing tools that change how users approach group photos and shared experiences. Those AI tools would be great if they allowed users to make adjustments after they’d already been shared. It seems that is exactly what Google Photos will now allow users to do.
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Epic Games has slowly been creating a safe space for Android games that are free from the Google Play Store. The newest Epic Games addition is a title that hasn’t been around in some time — Flappy Bird.
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In 2025, the wearable market can be easily divided into a couple of categories. The watch or wrist wearable seems to be the most popular option, simply driven by the number of options available to choose from. The ring wearable tracker, however, offers a different set of conveniences, but it isn’t for everyone. In that second category, the Oura Ring 4 is easily our favorite option.
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AI video summaries are not new, and apps like YouTube have already begun rolling them out to users. However, software-level video summary that works for any media on device isn’t seemingly available for users, and One UI 8 might bring just that to Galaxy devices.
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Samsung has been working hand-in-hand with Google to bring the company’s AI to more Android devices, all while Samsung maintains some footprint with its popular Galaxy AI suite. The two companies noted that the Google Gemini shortcut will start to make its way to Galaxy A devices, reaching a broader market.
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Samsung seems to have just gotten ahead of schedule with its One UI 7 release, adding the Galaxy S21 to the list of devices with the new update. This comes as other flagship Galaxy phones have just received the update before they were expected to.
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Emoji Kitchen has been around for a while, and it somewhat goes unnoticed becuase of its integration into Gboard. As often as cool combinations are presented when you choose the right emojis, there is a way to browse through all available Emoji Kitchen combinations, offering up some of the best picks to send. This quick guide will explain how the feature works.
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