Which streaming services do you prefer?

The great thing about Android has at all times been its customization, and that usually begins along with your launcher. Whereas the third-party launcher has misplaced a few of its prominence lately, well-liked choices like Nova Launcher, Motion Launcher, and Niagara Launcher are nonetheless pushing issues ahead.

Again throughout the early years of Android I used to be a rooting and romming maniac, flashing ROMs left and proper, at all times seeking essentially the most steady model with essentially the most options I may discover. Positive, I dabbled with Cyanogen, however I used to be extra a inventory ROM seeker, seeing I used to be on provider telephones again then, LG, HTC, Samsung, all of which supplied their very own customized skins that weren’t all that nice. However that was years in the past, I’ve since given up the ghost searching down high quality ROMs, completely pleased with the established order and the software program that ships on trendy smartphones. So for me, it has been nearly a decade since I finished loading customized ROMs on my Android units.

However what about you, our expensive readers, when was the final time you sought out a customized ROM and put in it on an Android telephone? Hit the feedback to tell us, I think about it has been some time for a lot of.

Probably the greatest issues about Android is that it’s extremely customizable, whether or not you are utilizing a Galaxy, Pixel, or another gadget. What launcher you utilize can have a serious impression in your customizability, which is why many use apps from third events. In fact, that does not imply you possibly can’t simply theme a tool from Samsung or Google; they each supply loads of customization on their very own.

So, what’s your good setup, are you a third-party launcher individual, or do you wish to roll your telephone inventory? In both case, let’s examine your own home display; this fashion, everybody can get a really feel for the kind of themeing happening in Android land. So hit the feedback under and present us your good house display setup.

Again when Android was nonetheless younger, the Google Play Retailer (on the time known as Android Market) was truly enjoyable to discover. It wasn’t crammed with infinite commercials but, it was a easy listing categorized into genres. Heck, there was nonetheless a brand new launch part again then, which is now so embarrassing that Google eliminated it from the web site. Issues have modified, and never for the higher. The Play Retailer is a chore to navigate these days, to the purpose I do know I am going out of my method to keep away from it. It is a cluttered mess that might relatively push apps you do not need as a substitute of really utilizing your years of knowledge to showcase precise pursuits.

So are you additionally sick of the Play Retailer, like me, and keep away from it in any respect prices? Or are you high-quality with the muddle so long as you possibly can simply set up new apps and video games? Hit the feedback to share, and let’s commiserate.

I do know what mine is; it’s the Pixel 5. Maybe an apparent reply, however it really is the telephone that stands out to me essentially the most over my a few years of shopping for and utilizing smartphones. Positive, HTC supplied some very slick units again within the Home windows Cell days, but when I have been hard-pressed to call the one telephone that stands above all others, not less than for my part, the Pixel 5 is it. It was extremely inexpensive whereas providing inventory Android, which was a giant deal on the time of bloated UIs from the competitors, and admittedly, it was the proper measurement, pocketable but useable, one thing I really miss even in 2024. 

However in any case of those years, what telephone stood out to you as your favourite? What nonetheless sticks in your reminiscence because the telephone nobody has been capable of beat?

There is no such thing as a denying that Google is pushing Gemini into each house it will probably muster, from Messages to Gmail, there isn’t any getting away from it. Positive, there may be additionally the app, in addition to a subscription tier for the app, however it could appear Google feels all of us want some convincing to make use of its AI by shoving the service into the whole lot. So this bought me considering: maybe few are literally utilizing Gemini, which is why I wished to ask. How typically do you utilize Gemini, or do you even use it in any respect? Hit the feedback, as I’ve a sneaking suspicion no one is all that desirous about AI.

These days, all of us take a look at our telephones very first thing within the morning. I do know I do. Research inform us we shouldn’t, however we do. We need to be linked to the world as quickly as we get up. We need to be plugged into what is going on round us, whilst terrible as that may be typically. You get up, and also you scan to see what’s occurred in a single day. In spite of everything, loads can occur in 8 (hopefully) hours. So, which app is it that you just open very first thing? Is it some sort of social media app, do you reply a number of emails, or just remedy the Wordle for the day earlier than it is time to got down to work?

The Google Play Retailer is totally stuffed to the brim with messaging apps, and Google has definitely made loads of contributions to this app sort. However on the finish of the day, all of us have our favorites. For me, I take advantage of Google Messages as my major messaging app, due to its RCS assist, sending media to family and friends hardly ever poses a problem. Nonetheless, I’ve a smooth spot for Telegram as a result of it affords speedy communication, in addition to a desktop app.

However what about you? Which messaging app is your favourite, and which might you select to make use of in the event you have been solely allowed to make use of one? Hit the feedback to shout your selection loud and proud.

I moved away from Chrome as soon as I caught wind of Manifest V3 and the way it could hobble advert blockers. Positive, lite variations of advert blockers have popped up since Manifest V3 was applied in Chrome, however I used to be already well-established with Firefox, my present browser of selection. I can sync all of my information throughout all of my Firefox installs throughout my working methods, similar to Chrome, however in fact, I’ve the flexibility to dam adverts throughout each OS with out having to fret in regards to the shortcomings of Manifest V3.

However what about you? Which browser do you favor, and why do you favor it? From Samsung Web to Edge to Courageous to Chrome, there are many decisions, so which do you favor to your internet looking wants?

Probably the greatest issues about Android for the reason that very begin is its widget assist. It doesn’t matter what you want to show in your launcher, from the climate to inventory costs, there’s a collection of widgets to select from to type your telephone nevertheless you want. You’ll be able to see your information feed, test your emails, and even ship messages, all with out having to drag up a single app, which is fairly cool in the event you ask me.

So, out of all the widgets out there on Android, which is your go-to, the primary one you put in on any new telephone? In different phrases, which widget on Android is your favourite, and why? Hit the feedback to share; this fashion, we will all strive one another’s favorites.

I can not assist however get aggravated I can not actually use Adobe’s merchandise on my telephone. I can technically, however they’re so extremely restricted and never optimized.I really feel like this might be an absolute sport changer. It is one thing I hold hoping to listen to from any model at their convention, however by no means do. fingers crossed for Samsung Unpacked. What’s a characteristic that might be a sport changer for you that you have at all times wished for?

It is a easy sufficient query, and but it’s seemingly few of us will agree on. It could appear selecting the proper note-taking app could be very private, and I perceive why we every have our personal distinctive use instances. For me, I skip the grocery lists and go proper for ideation. Hold is the place I choose to jot down notes for myself, often title concepts for work, however I additionally hold monitor of fancy phrases I would like to make use of and even hold lists of issues I acquire, like Sport Boy video games. All issues any note-taking app ought to be capable to deal with, and but I choose the simplicity of Hold.

However what about you? What do you utilize note-taking apps for, and which app is your favourite?

Home windows Telephone could also be relegated to the dustbin of historical past, however its units had loads of options price remembering. I liked the {hardware} design of my Nokia Lumia 1020, with its giant digicam bump and OLED show. Despite the fact that provider assist ended way back, I nonetheless take pleasure in utilizing my Lumia 930 on Wi-Fi. 

Nevertheless, the signature characteristic of Home windows Telephone was the software program. Dwell Tiles remodeled how I view the UI expertise, and I’ve been dissatisfied that no Android producer has duplicated the expertise. Positive, you possibly can level to widgets that present data at a look, however nothing beats Dwell Tiles. Watching your icons show what family and friends have been as much as or the day’s information made your display really feel alive. You might additionally hook up with Xbox Dwell with achievements and your avatar on display. 

Which Home windows Telephone characteristic would you most wish to see adopted by Android producers?

All of us spend a big portion of our lives on our telephones. The typical display time within the US is 7 hours.We use apps for effectivity, utility, leisure, and so forth. We pay utilizing them, make our schedules on them, purchase tickets to the theater by means of them. My most used apps are Slack for work, Netflix for leisure, and Samsung’s MyHealth for health. What are the apps you utilize most? What do you utilize them for?

Google Maps — or mapping functions basically — is likely to be one of many least appreciated facets of our trendy age. By the point I bought my license, I already had a smartphone with Maps preloaded out of the field, however I’ve distinct recollections of serving to my dad and mom get to new places utilizing printed instructions from MapQuest, to say nothing of our devoted TomTom GPS unit.

However nearly as good as navigation apps is likely to be, after they fail, it may be demanding. Missed turns, fallacious exits, scrambling to repair a frozen app whereas flying down the interstate — something going fallacious with Google Maps will be trigger for alarm, and currently, I have been noticing a lot going fallacious. From making an attempt to take me down one-way streets going the wrong way to sending my fiancée in literal circles whereas leaving her job’s parking storage, the final yr or so with Google Maps has prompted me a number of friction. But, any time I take into consideration swapping apps — perhaps to Google’s different app Waze, and even to Apple Maps on the iPhone — the ex

Pokémon TCG Pocket launched on the finish of October. If you happen to’ve been enjoying since then, your assortment’s seemingly grown to incorporate nearly all of the primary set of playing cards, even in the event you’re not spending cash on the sport’s many, many optionally available microtransactions. 

However excellent news! The sport’s first main enlargement, Legendary Island, dropped yesterday. The set contains dozens of latest playing cards that introduce new aggressive methods, together with the versatile Mew ex. The true meat of the enlargement comes within the type of some nice new Grass-type playing cards, headlined by Celebi ex, the primary card in TCG Pocket with no harm ceiling. In my private expertise, PvP matches have been completely foolish for the reason that enlargement was launched. Hit the hyperlink to the suitable to learn extra.

Are you continue to enjoying Pokémon TCG Pocket? What have you ever pulled from Legendary Island packs thus far?

Gemini is right here in full pressure, and it lastly affords a number of the performance of Google Assistant whereas nonetheless missing a number of the smoothness Assistant customers have come to count on. This creates a scenario the place many are nonetheless utilizing Google Assistant as a substitute of switching over to Gemini. For me, I made the swap quickly after Gemini was launched, however I additionally by no means used Google Assistant, so the swap was painless for me. However what about you? Have you ever made the swap? Was it painful, or do you favor Gemini? Hit the feedback to tell us, as I’ve a sneaking suspicion there are extra holdouts than anticipated.

Except you’ve got had the possibility to make use of it, you will not be conscious that one in all Android’s greatest browsers comes from Samsung. It is what ships with the corporate’s telephones, seemingly ignored by many preferring to make use of Chrome. And in the event you hardly ever or have by no means used a Samsung gadget, there can be little cause to go searching down the browser. However you already know what? Not solely is it a quick browser, however it additionally affords plugins, reminiscent of advert blockers, which is a large win over Chrome.

So, have you ever loved utilizing Samsung Web, or has the browser slipped below your radar thus far?

I am not frightened of AI taking on my job. It is not as much as the duty. And it will not take over your job, both. It is not that good. Nonetheless, AI abilities will grow to be part of everybody’s job. Now, I do not go round telling folks what to do, however you actually ought to learn to use this new instrument successfully. Your profession will depend on it.

One of the simplest ways to start out utilizing an AI chatbot (like Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, or ChatGPT) is to good your prompting abilities. I take advantage of AI picture turbines to create photos for my weblog, and this has improved my prompts and outcomes.

Android Police Contributor Nick Todorov shares what he discovered whereas utilizing AI-generated photos. He affords concepts for acceptable locations to make use of AI photos, what to observe for when creating AI photos, and the significance of fine prompts. That is an informative learn in the event you’re exploring the world of AI artwork for the primary time.

Name me a contrarian, however I by no means appreciated X (Twitter); I am not an individual who’s massive into social media. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to disclaim social media’s reputation. However, it could additionally appear that the recognition of X (Twitter) has fallen since its rebrand. Are you discovering that you’ve been utilizing the service kind of ever because it modified to X? Have latest adjustments chased you off, or are you now extra seemingly to make use of X (Twitter) due to these adjustments? What in regards to the subscription? Are you paying for one, or will you ever pay for one? Hit the feedback to tell us.