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
Android TV and Google TV are great options for streaming media, playing cloud-based games, or even turning your TV into a virtual fireplace. Ok, well, mostly the first two. But did you know that you can use your phone as a remote control for your Android TV/Google TV? Here’s how.
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When it comes to deciding whether to buy a wired-in Nest Doorbell or a battery-powered one, there are a couple of things to consider: How long does the battery actually last, and how can I extend it? This guide will take you through just that and hopefully help you extend your Nest Doorbell battery life.
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Buying things and paying for subscriptions online has been completely normalized and is one of the easiest ways to do so. Google lets you add and keep debit and credit card information stored in your Google Account, so you have that info wherever you go. One important aspect of this is being able to manage payment methods in your Google Account, whether that’s adding or removing them. Here’s how to do that.
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Each OEM has its own little touches on Android – that’s especially the case with Samsung, which has an app for just about anything, including your touchless payment methods. In the case that you don’t want to use Samsung Wallet, you can deactivate it, uninstall or remove it from your device, and disable homescreen shortcuts. Here’s how.
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Forget taking screenshots! Capturing screen recordings on Google Pixel is the way to go. That’s mostly a joke, although screen recordings do come in handy more often than you think. Here’s how to create them.
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As of late, Samsung has been on the ball in terms of releasing new OS and security updates for its newer and older Galaxy devices. While that may be the case, there is one downside to updating a Samsung Galaxy phone: no seamless updates. What does this mean, and why doesn’t the OEM make use of this method? Let’s take a closer look.
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It’s no special feat to be able to control your lights with your Galaxy S22 anymore. The smart home is becoming the norm, and we like it that way. A new upcoming update to Samsung’s SmartThings will be adding something special – built-in support for Phillips Hue lighting so you can watch content on your Samsung TV and let your Hue bulbs color-match the show.
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With so many password management services out there, it can be tempting to make one of them your default autofill provider on your Android device. Unfortunately, our experience has resulted in bug after bug when using third-party password services. This guide will help you change your Pixel or Samsung device password autofill settings and adjust them to your liking.
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From our experience, most gamers put a lot of emphasis on sound quality, and why wouldn’t they? Gaming audio is a core part of the experience. That’s exactly why Asus has built a new pair of earbuds called the ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro earbuds that cater to those needs.
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Coming in as a new Twitter Blue feature for Android, the app now lets you customize your navigation bar. You can switch out that Spaces tab for other ones, like direct messages and communities. Here’s how to switch it up in Twitter Blue for Android.
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It’s finally happening! Cloud gaming is becoming mainstream and being delivered to even more users – especially those who use a Samsung TV. This week, the Samsung TV Gaming Hub launched with both Xbox and GeForce Now apps. Additionally, Amazon Luna unveils July’s lineup, including some pretty exciting titles.
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You’re tired of it, and I’m tired of it. Tired of the lack of options out there for apartment dwellers who want to deck their space out in smart home products. The Google Nest Doorbell is no different. Fortunately, we found an easy and safe way to install a Nest Doorbell in an apartment without having to drill a single hole or unpeel a single sticker.
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Cloud-based gaming has started to take off in the last year, with Google Stadia being one of the pioneering companies to get high-end gaming rigs into the hands of anyone, no matter the hardware they run. So in what countries is Google Stadia available, and how does it stack up to the likes of NVIDIA GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming?
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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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