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
There are a couple of companies vying for the top spot in the robot/vacuum market, and Ecovacs’ is one of them. Its Deebot T20 Omni is the newest smart cleaning robot that makes use of an auto-lifting mop system and new hardware for one of the best cleans around.
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OnePlus is planning on building off last year’s budget phone with the OnePlus Nord 3. The latest leaks show off the Nord 3 design in full, bearing a striking resemblance to an existing phone currently on the market.
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In Samsung’s new beta take on Wear OS 4, the Galaxy Watch gains Universal Gestures, which let you control your watch without touching the screen. Here’s a first look at how the new tool works.
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It’s wildfire season, and that, unfortunately, means smoke and pollutants are going to be tracking across thousands of miles, affecting air quality and millions of people. Checking the air quality before you step outside is vital, so here’s how to do it using Google apps and Search.
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Audio lovers have been waiting for the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds to be released for quite some time, and it looks like things are getting a little more concrete as new official-looking photos have cropped up, showing off Sony’s new and streamlined XM5 earbud design.
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Samsung is finally rolling out One UI Watch 5 beta after a delay that moved it up a bit. Now that the program is live, Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 users can sign up to get started with Samsung’s latest watch OS. Here’s how to sign up.
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Apple is seeing high praise for bringing a new landscape version of always-on display, which is meant to showcase a Google Home or Alexa-type set of widgets and info. While the hype for this is running high, it’s worth mentioning that Samsung Galaxy phones have had this “StandBy mode” ability for a while now. Here’s how to use it.
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Many notable services and websites are expanding security preferences to include access via passkey, a new way to log in to sites and apps without using a potentially vulnerable password. 1Password, by extension, is rolling out support for browser passkeys in the latest beta.
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The Edge+ from Motorola has widely been regarded as a strong competitor in 2023 for best phone. As good as it is, the Android device is slick. Here are some of our favorite case picks for the very slippery Motorola Edge+.
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Google Chrome has long since had the option to take on new themes set by you, the user. Now, that theming and customization tool comes to Chrome in a new way – as a side panel menu. Here’s how to use the new menu for quick and easy Chrome customization.
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The Windows Subsystem for Android that allows some of our favorite apps to run on Windows 11 isn’t perfect, though it’s been steadily improving since its public release last year. Now Android apps in Windows 11 have access to local file sharing, allowing users to upload photos and videos with certain apps.
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Netflix did it. The media streaming service has finally laid some ground rules on profile-sharing. With that, users can transfer profiles to a different account so they don’t get charged a fee for “mooching.” Here’s how to transfer a profile from one Netflix account to another.
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Rather than pushing traditional passwords for account security, Google has been spearheading a new method that utilizes passkey. Passkeys are meant to be much more secure than conventional methods. So how do you set them up? This guide will help you create Google passkeys for compatible devices and manage existing ones.
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Gboard has plenty of neat functions, with some being easier to find than others. Now, you can change that by adding additional tools to customize your Gboard toolbar.
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The Pixel 7a comes in some seriously nice colorways, which would mean it’d be a shame to hide it behind some protective plastic. While there are a ton of clear cases out there for the Pixel 7a, we’ve narrowed it down to the two best options.
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Making its debut as one of the first foldables in 2023, the Motorola Razr packs a pOLED display in a clamshell body cased in some seriously nice vegan leather paneling. As the little brother to the Razr+, this device isn’t going to lay its claim to power and performance, but man, does it look good.
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The OnePlus Pad lacks a lot in software performance, however, the physical build quality seemed to redeem that – somewhat. According to a recent torture test on the OnePlus Pad, that nice hardware also holds its own against some pretty harsh durability trials with surprising results.
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The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the epitome of Samsung’s fixed-display device lineup. According to new research published, a little under 40% of the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s cost can be attributed to materials alone.
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Earlier this month, Samsung announced its next iteration of Wear OS – One UI Watch 5. Having initially promised that software would debut a beta version for existing Galaxy Watch models, the company is now backtracking with looming unknowns.
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As stock Android experiences go, Motorola has found success in the past and delivered good hardware and experience with it, though it’s been a long time. Now, with the 2023 Motorola Edge+, it seems the company is maybe finding its stride again, delivering a phone that flies under the radar but should really be on a lot of buyers’ minds.
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For some users, Google has completely overhauled Search with AI, pushing what it calls the “Search Generative Experience.” While the experience is limited, some users have the option to turn it on now. Here’s how to turn on Search Generative Experience – SGE – and Google with AI.
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In theory, Matter is supposed to make smart home devices easier to set up and much more user-friendly. With Matter being a big feature of TP-Link’s new smart plug, that goal is accomplished to a T.
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As an advanced language model, Google’s Bard is trained to receive prompts and reply back in a human-like manner. Beyond the conversational aspect, there are a few features that make Bard what it is, and you should know how to use them. Here’s how you can use Bard to its full potential, including exporting your responses and even deleting your history.
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YouTube is doing away with one feature next month that just might be all but forgotten – Stories. How big of an effect this will actually have on creators is unknown.
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