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
Doorbells don’t have to make the classic “ding dong” we’re so accustomed to hearing. In fact, the Nest Doorbell offers a few different ringtones so you can switch things up and not have to settle for the played-out sound you’re used to hearing. Here’s how to do it.
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We live in the cloud. That’s just how things are now. Pages are being printed less often and most of our work is done online and shared with others through programs like Google Drive. To embrace that shift, Google Docs has added a feature called “Pageless” editing. Here’s how it works.
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Google Hangouts has a ticking clock hanging over its head and is set to shut down for good. Fortunately, you can move your Google Hangouts data by downloading it and keeping it safe locally. This guide will take you through exactly how to do that.
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While modern-day smartphones are fantastic for keeping large files in the cloud, you will inevitably find yourself downloading at least some locally onto your device. Over time, that download folder can get larger and larger until your Android device almost can’t take anymore. This guide will take you through the “Files” app and help you empty some of that trash on your Pixel.
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There are plenty of task programs out there, and many of them work perfectly fine. Some of them work really well, given what they can do and how they can integrate with other apps and programs. Google Tasks, for instance, not only reminds you on the device you set it up with, but it also reminds you everywhere else you have a Google Account set up. This guide will take you through the basics of using Google Tasks more effectively.
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This year marks the 109th Tour de France race and millions will likely be watching virtually or in person throughout Europe. Waze has announced that the company will be officially partnering with Tour de France to provide traffic data to keep both cyclists and drivers safe during this huge event.
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We’ve all been there. Whether it’s spam, robocalls, or a repeated wrong number, there are plenty of reasons you might want to block a phone number. On Android that process is very straightforward and can be done over and over for tons of different numbers. Here’s how to block a number on your Android device.
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When using your phone, there exists a virtual toolbox of things you can do to fix potential issues and bugs that come up. For instance, if an app stops working as planned, you can clear that app’s cache. Here’s how to do that on Android.
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Action Launcher has been around for a very long time. In that time, the popular Android add-on saw many users. Unfortunately, many features were pay-to-play, leaving the very basic features to those who chose not to pay. Fortunately, Action Launcher v50 takes a wrecking ball to that paywall and makes a few other key changes.
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The gaming options for cloud gaming just don’t stop coming in. Xbox is adding a few large titles and Boosteroid is adding its first game since the official expansion into the US. Not to mention, GeForce Now has more titles users can jump in on this week.
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If you have an ultrawide monitor, you no doubt know the struggle. Streaming videos and content from services, while created in 21:9, doesn’t get you quite the right look. This guide will show you how to get fullscreen 21:9 content to display correctly on your ultrawide monitor.
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Google TV is an all-around great OS that finds itself on devices like Chromecasts and some TVs. Recently, Google added the ability to add different profiles to the media hub – here’s how you can add or remove profiles in Google TV.
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If there’s one category in the tech market that could be described as both completely subjective and saturated to the point of never allowing you to be happy with your decision on a product, it’s the truly wireless earbud market. Why do I say that? Well, I’ve had a chance to review the OnePlus Nord Buds, and I only have one thing to say: “I hate earbuds.” Ok well, two things. I love them, and these are ridiculously good for the price.
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This part of the year seems to be the one where cloud gaming companies start to expand into new territory. Boosteroid, a European game streaming service, has finally made its way and planted servers in the US for many more users to enjoy. On top of that, Xbox Cloud Gaming with Game Pass is making its way south of the equator to New Zealand and Argentina.
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Rewards programs can vary in usefulness, and some aren’t worth using at all. Google Play Points has some hidden usefulness that can fly under the radar – unless you’re looking for it. This guide will take you through how to use Google Play Points to redeem and pay for things like apps and perks.
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Since the release of the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, users have complained about one major issue with their devices – DACs did not work with the brand new Pixel 6. Though that has been a big issue, it seems that the June Pixel update has finally fixed this long-running issue.
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Waze is a popular navigation tool that undoubtedly does a great job of getting you from point A to point B; the problem is that getting to point B is expensive right now. Fortunately, Waze is also a great tool for finding the cheapest gas prices near you. This guide will break down how to use Waze to find gas prices.
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Google Chrome’s “Reading list” has been around for quite a while, letting users save articles and web pages for persuing at a later time. That feature is still around, though it might seem hidden with one of Chrome’s newer updates. This guide will bring you through everything you need to know about Chrome’s reading list, including finding and removing it from Chrome.
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This week, Xbox has set itself up to deliver some great titles to gamers using its Cloud Gaming service, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. One of those Xbox Cloud games is Assassin’s Creed Origins. On the other end of the game streaming spectrum, NVIDIA has announced a shocking bit of news. God of War will be leaving GeForce Now after just being added over a month ago.
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There are plenty of people out there who use Android Auto on their phones. After all, it’s an alternative to what can sometimes be an expensive Android OS for your vehicle. Unfortunately, that Android app has been deemed “totaled” by Google. This guide will give you the rundown on Google Assistant’s “Driving Mode,” a capable replacement for Android Auto on mobile.
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Can you believe it? It’s been 15 years since the development and rollout of the Google Street View car, that awesome little vehicle with a 360-degree camera attached to the top like a big lollipop. To celebrate, Google Maps has added a new Street View car mode that lets you cruise around as – you guessed it – the Google Street car. Here’s how you can activate and use it as your personal vehicle.
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Galaxy Watch 4 owners can now install Samsung’s newest One UI Watch beta for the smartwatch, but only if they’ve signed up previously. This new beta showcases the next Wear OS generation for Samsung’s wearable and might have some cool new improvements up its sleeve, but Samsung has already closed off sign-ups for the beta program.
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One thing the Google Pixel does well is “Hey Google” detection. The problem is that if you have a lot of Google Home devices in your house or apartment, sometimes your Pixel can pick up your query when you don’t want it to. This guide will help you disable “Hey Google” detection on your Pixel and present a couple of other options for enabling your Google Assistant, like using the power button!
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We’ve all been there. Emails are stacking up, and none of them seem important in the least. Fortunately, there’s a feature in Gmail that allows you to unsubscribe from emails with a couple of taps or clicks. This guide will take you through it.
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