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’s Gemini app is a neat look into the company’s most advanced AI language model incorporated right into your phone; however, it takes over as your preferred Assistant. Here’s how to switch back to Google Assistant for voice commands.
Expand Expanding Close
It was known early on that Samsung would not limit some of its most anticipated AI features to the Galaxy S24 series. The One UI 6.1 update with all of its AI features is officially coming to a batch of devices outside of the latest releases, and it’ll bring these cool features.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy Book 4 series is the latest PC offering from Samsung, and it’s available for pre-order in select regions. It sports Intel’s newest AI-driven processor and combines it with a build that Galaxy users will likely love.
Expand Expanding Close
In a recent interview, Microsoft confirmed that the number of hours played on the cloud versus elsewhere is significant, making up at least 10% of the total hours played in Xbox games.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24+ is likely the best option from Samsung’s new lineup. It takes on a slightly new design and, with it, a need for some extra protection. These cases from Dbrand, Thinborne, and Spigen are our favorites for the Galaxy S24+ so far.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy Fit 3 still hasn’t been announced, and more leaks are creeping out of the woodwork. The newest batch includes full specs on the device, including the supposed 13-day battery.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series has been a go-to for Galaxy users because they simply work better within the ecosystem. Furthering that notion is an AI-based update that brings live translation to the Galaxy Buds series. The Galaxy Buds series is also finally getting Android’s auto-switching feature when using multiple devices.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24 series has received a lot of flak for repackaging the previous generation and sprinkling some AI on top, and that doesn’t feel far from the truth. Of all of the Galaxy S24 models, the S24+ is the one I’d actually consider buying, for a number of reasons.
Expand Expanding Close
Android 15 is officially available in Developer Preview with a few small changes to the Pixel series so far. One of those Android 15 changes is the addition of a new vibration effect when adjusting the brightness on the Pixel.
Expand Expanding Close
GeForce Now just celebrated 4 years of service, and with it comes a large list of games for February. One of those on GeForce Now is Skull and Bones, a brand-new title in it’s pre-reelase phase.
Expand Expanding Close
OnePlus made a pretty heavy dent in the smartphone market with the OnePlus 12, which turned out to be one of the best smartphones this year. The OnePlus 12R, however, is positioned as an even better bang for your buck, and it’s available to buy now.
Expand Expanding Close
One month deep into the year, Samsung is going strong with a new security update for several devices. Here’s the full list of devices receiving the February 2024 security update.
Expand Expanding Close
This month kicked off with a confirmation that the Nothing 2a was in the pipeline. Today, Nothing has begun marketing the official launch event for the Phone (2a), scheduled for March 5.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24 series, while bringing little physical change, packs a lot of AI narrative. One of the biggest Galaxy S24 features is the AI Generative Edit, which allows you to completely alter photos in mere seconds using machine learning.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24 is set to gain a vividness slider in an upcoming update to One UI. The setting might address some concerns that the Galaxy S24 is not as vibrant as in years past.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy Fit 3 is Samsung’s latest foray back into proprietary fitness trackers, and it may be released sooner than we expected. The Galaxy Fit 3’s user manual has popped up online, and the device itself has been spotted in stores before the official announcement.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the cornerstone mechanics of smartphone cameras is tapping the screen to expose the image automatically. On the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, that tap exposure feature is seemingly broken at its default focal length due to an interesting bug.
Expand Expanding Close
Most who equip dashcams in their car generally go for something that simply records to an SD card. While that’s a valid option, the Nextbase IQ takes car security to another level, bringing some of the best features from home security and camera systems to your vehicle through a solid LTE always-on connection.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung has garnered a lot of hype around the utilization of titanium in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. A teardown of the device reveals just how much is inside the phone, and whether it deserves that much hype or not.
Expand Expanding Close
The Galaxy S24 series might not have a lot of change going for it on the physical front, but that’s where the newest iteration of One UI 6 lives. In the latest version of Samsung’s One UI 6.1, users are able to set custom wallpapers for their Galaxy phone alarm.
Expand Expanding Close
Palworld has been one of the biggest games of what little 2024 has passed. So big, in fact, that Palworld broke the Xbox Cloud Gaming record for highest traffic day-one releases from a third-party.
Expand Expanding Close
More renders have surfaced regarding the design of the Galaxy Fit 3 from Samsung, continuing the proprietary fitness wearable market from the company.
Expand Expanding Close
Gmail started rolling out the ability to react to emails with a single emoji, as opposed to sending an email in reply. However, that emoji icon can get in the way if you don’t plan on using it. While you can’t turn Gmail’s emoji reactions off officially, you can hide them. Here’s how.
Expand Expanding Close
In reality, we’re not incredibly far off from the release of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. According to recent leaks, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is rumored to be carrying a bigger battery, possibly up to a 4,000mAh capacity.
Expand Expanding Close