Andy Walker

Cape Town

News Writer at Android Authority

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

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Articles

Forget Galaxy phones, the Galaxy Watch is the perfect home for One UI 7's Now Bar

5 days 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 week 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 week 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 week 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

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.
Circle to Search is my favorite tool for identifying the birds and the bees

4 weeks ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Andy Walker / Android Authority Every feature addition that Google makes to Android and its other products always seems to funnel me back to the company's original purpose: search. As its name suggests, Circle to Search is one very obvious example. Long-pressing the home button to pull up a search dialog that trawls the internet for content you've highlighted on your screen is as convenient as it is useful, but not perhaps in the way Google intended.
I can't wait for silicon-carbon batteries to come to the Pixel Watch

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

There's very little more that I desire from the modern smartwatch. Sure, I wouldn't say no to additional sensors to track even more health factors. I could also take slicker software and smoother animations. I'd even smile at brighter, higher-resolution screens. But beyond all those incremental improvements, I still yearn for a sizeable leap in battery life. Thankfully, that doesn't seem too far off. We've already seen one of the most significant smartwatch launches of 2025: the OnePlus Watch 3.
Microsoft's overlooked Android launcher showed me everything Pixel Launcher is missing

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

When you think of Microsoft, the likes of Windows, Office, and Bing probably come to mind. I doubt that "creator of a brilliant Android launcher" would spring to mind. Since receiving a Pixel 8, I've struggled to bend its home software to suit my needs. I've learned to live with Pixel Launcher more than I have grown to love it. Naturally, I've been exploring several alternatives.
I've finally found the best use for Google's AI Overview

1 month ago | androidauthority.com | Andy Walker

Hate it or love it, AI Overview is now a firm part of Google's long-term search plans ( unless you switch it off). However, if I were to pick a side, I'd fall firmly into the "hate it" camp. The experimental AI feature offers nothing of value whenever it appears; it occupies too much of the search results screen and provides hilariously conflicting info at the best of times. As much as I dislike it, I've leveled with the fact that it'll be part of Search for a while.