About Scott Scrivens
Senior UK Editor — My interest in Android began with the beautiful Nexus 4 and the less-ugly-than-before Jelly Bean. Right now, I'm probably watching Black Books, playing football (soccer), or listening to Answer Code Request.
Latest Articles
Google Pixel 6 Pro camera guide: What you need to know about telephoto quirks, sensor size, and ‘macro' mode
Everything you need to know about the Pixel 6 Pro's cameras, including telephoto quirks, sensor size, and 'macro' mode, and more
Although we're all about the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro these days, both phones build on the legacy laid out by their predecessors. Just like on Google's 2022 flagships, the periscope telephoto lens was one of the main differentiators between the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, forcing photo bugs to spend an additional $300 for the additional sensor.
How to set an Android app's notifications to silent
Because not all notifications are equally important
One of Android's key strengths as a platform lies in how it handles notifications. As an Android user, you get a lot of control over your alerts, so you can make sure the less important stuff doesn't get in the way. By default, most notifications will arrive with a sound and/or vibrate, depending on your phone's current alert settings. You can use Do Not Disturb (or Priority Mode in Android 13) to silence all your notifications for a period of time, but that's a drastic option. Thankfully, you can set individual notifications from specific apps to silent — they won't ring or vibrate, and they'll also be moved down to a less prominent place in your notification shade. This guide will show you how to set any notification to silent so you won't be bothered by annoying app notifications any longer.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a great budget soundbar option to replace your crappy TV speakers
Virtual Dolby Atmos and decent connectivity without breaking the bank
The speakers on most TVs suck, especially those on cheaper models. My budget 4K Samsung television is no exception, so I was looking for a way to boost its sound without spending a huge amount. After using it for a little while, I’ve found the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam to be exactly what I was after, greatly improving my audio experience while watching films and playing games, and for a reasonable price.
The Philips Hue Signe Gradient Lamp is my new favorite smart light
Get beautiful sunset vibes every day, no matter how gray it is outside
I’ve played with a fair few accent smart lights over the years from the likes of LIFX, Nanoleaf, and Govee, but Hue hardware is usually a cut above the rest. And so it should be given the high prices Philips charges for its products. Smart lights of the stick variety are very in vogue at the moment, so I was excited to try out Hue’s new Signe Gradient Table Lamp, and it did not disappoint.
YouTube Originals is shutting down for good
Taking on Netflix turned out to be a fool's game
In 2016, YouTube made a big push into producing original content, but after more than six years and several major setbacks, the project is being shut down in favor of pursuing different investment opportunities (via Variety). Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl explained the closure on Twitter and also announced that YouTube Originals head Susanne Daniels would be leaving the company in March.
RIP: OnePlus 6 and 6T have received their last official software update
After three major Android updates, which isn't bad going
After three major Android updates and more than three years of security updates, the OnePlus 6 and 6T will no longer be supported by the company with future firmware versions. Unfortunately, this means that the OxygenOS 11.1.2.2 upgrade that started rolling out to the phones on December 3, 2021, will be the very last official update.
Oppo Find X5 Pro specs have leaked, and they sound suspiciously familiar
Oppo and OnePlus continue to copy each other's homework
The first leak regarding the upcoming Oppo Find X5 series surfaced last month, showing us what the phones are likely to look like. We still aren't sure if those renders depict the design of the Find X5 or X5 Pro, but we now know a little bit more about the latter as its specs have been shared by a couple of different sources. It's all very much as you'd expect for a 2022 flagship phone, but we can't help but notice the similarities with another hotly-anticipated Android release.
The Nvidia Shield TV's long-awaited Android 11 update has arrived
After skipping Android 10, the long wait for a version update is finally over
We were all a bit surprised to see Nvidia decide against updating its Shield TVs to Android 10, instead opting to leave the devices on Android 9 until a more comprehensive update arrived. Considering the lack of user-facing changing changes, this now appears to have been a shrewd move. The wait for a significant update is coming to an end, though. The company has been testing Android 11 as part of a closed beta program on Shield TVs since October 2021, and now it's ready to deliver the stable version to eager users.
Hey Google, why can’t I turn on my lights without unlocking my Pixel?
Lock screen device controls are supposed to be convenient shortcuts
One of the most popular new features to arrive with Android 11 was the power button long-press menu that enabled easy access to Google Pay cards and smart home controls. Sadly, Google isn’t known for its consistency, and thus it promptly relocated the whole UI to a with the introduction of Android 12. Payment cards and smart device controls are now accessible via separate shortcuts at the bottom of the lock screen (or via quick settings toggles), and they work in much the same way from there.
Nokia set for major US expansion with five new budget phones and two new wireless partners
HMD Global announces new partnerships with Dish Wireless and Consumer Cellular
HMD Global's news for the doomed CES 2022 show concerns what is its biggest US expansion since it started making Nokia-branded phones back in 2016. Not only is the Finnish company releasing five brand-new smartphones — all budget devices under $250 — but it's also announcing two major new wireless partnerships with Dish and Consumer Cellular. These phones may not be the most exciting products around, but the intent is clear. HMD sees an opportunity to grow its US business and it's going all out in 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and S10 are latest to get Android 12 update with One UI 4
Samsung's blistering rollout continues apace
Samsung has been killing it with swift OS updates in recent years, and it's no different with Android 12. In its bid to get the excellent One UI 4 out to as many phones as possible, as quickly as possible, the rollout process has now reached the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S10 series. This comes right after Samsung started bumping the S20 and Note 20 to the latest version of Android — the Korean company is showing no signs of slowing down, which is excellent news for its customers.
Uh oh, some Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners are reporting spontaneous screen cracks
A cracking phone in more ways than one
In an ideal world, expensive tech products would all be perfect right out of the gate and we'd never have to report on any issues. Sadly, that's not the world we live in, and every device will have the odd problem. Google's Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are no stranger to this — the latest unfortunate defect relates to the display. Several owners have reported cracks appearing on the front glass of their new Google phones, and they're at a loss when it comes to explaining why.
Manual updates arrive for Pixel Buds A-Series alongside new features
Bass boost and loudness compensation are among the latest enhancements
We heard back in February this year that manual firmware updates for the Pixel Buds A-Series were in the works, but it's taken until now for Google to start rolling it out. At the same time, the cheap but cheerful true wireless earbuds also learn a few new tricks, with enhanced bass boost, loudness compensation, and some nifty new device-switching functionality.
YouTube is making its handy video chapters available on more devices
Smart TVs and game consoles are getting one of the app's best recent features
The YouTube app is pretty mature by this point, so meaningful feature additions are few and far between these days. One of the more memorable recent upgrades in functionality came with the introduction of timestamped chapters that let you jump to exactly the part of the video that you're most interested in without having to randomly scrub through in hope. That nifty feature is now rolling out to more devices, including select smart TVs and video game consoles.
YouTube for Android adds new listening controls for easier music playback
A handy little feature, but it's exclusive to Premium subscribers
YouTube Premium subscribers get a number of worthwhile perks, such as add-free content, downloads, and access to YouTube Music. There are also a number of smaller exclusive features that enhance the experience, and this latest one fits into that category. If you're listening to music in the YouTube app, you'll now be able to bring up new controls that make it a little more like a dedicated music-streaming app.
Nest's holiday doorbell ringtones have arrived, no subscription needed
Come on, get into the holiday spirit
The holiday season wouldn't be complete without changing your doorbell's ringtone to a seasonal chime that's sure to annoy the hell out of the rest of the family. If you own a wired or battery-powered Nest Doorbell, the time has now come to head into the Nest app and choose your seasonal theme.
YouTube Music's elusive 2021 Recap wants to take on Spotify Wrapped
Very few users have been able to access it so far, though
It's the most wonderful time of the year — the holidays are coming, year-end lists are about to take over the internet, and it's time to reflect on what we've been doing this past year. Spotify Wrapped is a great way to see all the music you've been listening to in 2021, even if it's been mercilessly mocked for its cringe use of language this year. If you use YouTube Music instead, you'll be pleased to know it has a similar feature, although the rollout is as slow as molasses.
WhatsApp is beta testing new skin tone emoji combinations for couples
Available now to select users
It's hard to remember a time when skin tone emoji weren't a thing, with WhatsApp first introducing them all the way back in 2015. However, even today there are some emoji types that still aren't compatible due to the complexity of their design. Another gap is now being plugged, though, as WhatsApp is rolling out skin tone variations for couples emoji in the beta version of the app.
Vivaldi 5.0 brings its crazy double-decker Tab Stacks to Android phones
The browser is going big on Chromebooks and tablets, too
Vivaldi is one of the better privacy-focused web browsers out there, and it's just announced its latest major iteration. Version 5 has arrived for Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux, along with some nifty new features and some other additions that are a little more unconventional.
Nothing's ear (1) Black Edition are here and they look pretty slick
The company has also made its first product carbon neutral
Nothing launched its first product, the ear (1) true wireless earbuds, amid much fanfare earlier this year. To my surprise, they actually ticked a lot of the right boxes and turned out to be a really decent pair of earbuds, especially considering the $99 price tag — check out my review for more on that. Today, the company is announcing the special dark mode model that was recently leaked, along with news that it's going carbon neutral.