Andy Walker

Cape Town

News Writer at Android Authority

Writer @AndroidAuth / Make-believe chef / Proud monstera dad /

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Articles

Samsung's early take on Android 16 is here. What do you think of it?

1 week ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below - your take might be featured in a future roundup. Samsung rolled out the One UI 8 beta just weeks after One UI 7 stable made its debut. The new beta is based on Android 16, which, on a Pixel at least, presents a massive jump over Android 15. However, based on our experience thus far, One UI 8 takes a considerably light touch regarding new features and changes.
[Open Thread] Google may have changed the face of visual media forever, but is it for the good?

2 weeks ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below - your take might be featured in a future roundup. I'm going to be real with you: Google Veo 3 is by far the most disturbing product launched by the company this year, perhaps ever. With a simple prompt, anyone can create a short movie, commercial, or some other dystopian brand of visual story that blurs the lines of reality and simulation.
Has Google I/O left you excited or tired of AI?

2 weeks ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below - your take might be featured in a future roundup. Google I/O? More like Google A/I. If 2024's edition signaled the impending dominance of AI products at the conference, this year's showcase cemented it. Google announced plenty of new AI developments, products, and features that will define its and our future.
Android 16 is just weeks away, but has it met your early expectations?

3 weeks ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Joe Maring / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below - your take might be featured in a future roundup. This has been a massive news week for Android, and we haven't even had Google I/O yet!Android 16 is now confirmed to roll out to devices starting this June.
Forget Galaxy phones, the Galaxy Watch is the perfect home for One UI 7's Now Bar

4 weeks ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Early indications suggest that One UI 8 Watch could be a significant update for Samsung Galaxy Watch owners. We've discovered several potential features, including a new health metric, a watch face randomizer, and tools to enhance battery life. While all these features interest me to some extent, one in particular caught my attention: evidence that Samsung plans to introduce the Now Bar to its smartwatches. The Now Bar was a major addition to Galaxy smartphones with the recent One UI 7 update.
Here's why I keep reaching for my Samsung even with a flagship Pixel in my pocket

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

If someone were to ask you if Samsung smartphones are better than Google Pixels, what would you say? It's a question that I can't answer with a single word. Both offer users some of the best expressions of Android money can buy. And I admit, picking my daily driver between the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 FE was difficult. The two phones are equally adept, supported by their creators, and refined. But, if you pressed me, there is one I prefer to carry around wherever I go.
I wish Android Auto integrated with my Wear OS smartwatch for safer driving

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Tracking my health has become a natural part of my daily life. It gives me peace of mind and gradually encourages me to improve my overall physical condition. I primarily rely on my Wear OS smartwatch to monitor my daily activity, stress levels, and sleep quality. However, in certain instances, I wish it could do more to bring any issues to my attention. One such example would be during safety-critical activities, like driving.
This essential feature is missing from Pixel Launcher, and I'm tired of it

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

I often spend hours delicately tweaking my home screen, hand-picking each element and determining their best placement to ensure my device is perfect for my needs. This I do across all devices and launchers, even with Pixel Launcher. This makes the need to backup my various layouts especially important.
These are my favorite alternatives to Google's widgets

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

There's nothing inherently wrong with Google's widgets. Regarding aesthetic cohesion, they all adhere to the company's love of pastels and rounded edges. So if you use a Google Pixel daily, they probably won't seem too misplaced on your particular device. However, if you value information density or customization options, Google's widgets are far from the best options for your home screen. To prove my point, I detail some of the best Google widget alternatives I use on my phone.
Android Auto makes my roads trips easier, unless I'm a passenger

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Andy Walker / Android Authority Of all the Google products I use daily, Android Auto is perhaps my favorite. Whenever I hop into my car, it reliably boots up with all my apps and audio ready to go, alongside my Google Maps screen detailing nearby traffic. It works flawlessly as a driving assistant, but it's more of a challenge to use as a passenger. Android Auto isn't passenger-friendly C. Scott Brown / Android Authority I often drive with my partner beside me.