Do you prefer flagships or mid-range phones?
In 2025, I personally feel like all of the exciting designs are in the mid-range. Affordable flips, gaming phones that punch above their weight, or just straight-up bonkers designs like the Minimal Phone. The mid-range is simply pushing out much more interesting designs, and I can't ignore it. I want my phones to be fun, like the good old days. But what about you? Do you prefer the mid-range right now, or are you still impressed with what flagships are bringing to the table?
MattSholtz
What are your favorite open-source apps?
Just about every platform offers free and open-source apps, but Android certainly caters to this audience with an app store dedicated to open-source apps, known as F-Droid. Of course, F-Droid isn't the only place to get your open-source apps; many are available directly on the Play Store, like Krita, Thunderbird, and VLC. But out of all of the open-source apps we have to choose from, which would you say are your favorites? For me, I'm enjoying Fennec, which removes the proprietary and telemetry bits from Firefox, while still supporting Firefox Sync (I like to keep Fennec and Floorp synced across desktop and mobile).
MattSholtz
You can earn Kindle Rewards for your book purchases on Amazon
Did you know that when you buy books on Amazon, whether physical or digital, your account earns rewards? Yep, it's true, for every dollar you spend, you earn 3 points, and for every 300 points, you can get yourself a $3 credit on a new book. What's really nice is that Amazon is finally leaning into this program, showcasing how many points you have earned next to the buy button on any book listing. You can also see how many points book purchases will earn you. It's a convenient way to spend and earn your Kindle Rewards, which is a nice little bonus if you happen to buy a lot of books and e-books from Amazon.
MattSholtz
Do you want Gemini on Android Auto?
Google is set to remove Assistant from all surfaces by the end of 2025, including Android Auto, which means Gemini is coming to Android Auto whether anyone wants it or not. So, do you want Gemini on Android Auto, or would you prefer that Google stops shoving AI into everything?
MattSholtz
ICYMI: Android 16's final beta is now available
Android 16 is shaking up Google's typical release cycle, with the stable release slated for early this summer. So it's no surprise that the final beta build landed this week, on April 17. The newest beta version doesn't seem to introduce any major visual changes or flashy user-facing features, but it's sure to squash some bugs and make the experience more stable overall.Follow the link to the right to learn more about Android 16 Beta 4. The full Android 16 release is expected before the end of the second quarter of the year — which means it should be available sometime in May or June.
https://www.androidpolice.com/android-16-beta-4-released/
TaylorKerns
A new version of Material Design will be revealed at I/O 2025
Apparently, Google is prepping a new version of Material Design that will be revealed at Google I/O 2025. So far, all we know is that some minor theme changes will be included, or are at least hinted at, though there could be bigger changes revealed at I/O. Personally, I'd rather see Google offer consistency across its Android applications when it comes to Material Design and following its guidelines, though I suppose a fresh look could be nice.Are you excited to see what Google has in store for Material Design at I/O this year?
MattSholtz
Have you seen this color e-reader that folds like a book?
Readmoo's Mooink V was revealed at Touch Taiwan, an e-reader packing an 8-inch Gallery 3 color e-paper screen that can fold in half. Utilizing magnesium and aluminum for the body to keep weight down, this e-reader was designed to offer an experience close to a real book, from its weight to folding like a real book. So, did you see the announcement, or is this your first time learning of the world's first folding color e-reader?
MattSholtz
What's your favorite Chromecast feature?
I'm a big believer in convenience features, the kind of stuff you don't expect to find, but once found, are instantly convinced of their genius. The Ethernet port built into the charging brick of the Google Chromecast was and is one of my favorite discoveries in electronics products. Why wouldn't everyone include an Ethernet port in every charging brick of connected devices? Yet Google remains alone, or at the very least, it is sharing rarefied air.What about you? What's your favorite Chromecast feature?
MattSholtz
Have you tried making AI videos with Veo 2 in Gemini yet?
I can tell you I'm dying to try out video generation in Gemini, but despite the fact that the feature already launched, it's rolling out like molasses, so I still don't have access. I'm super curious to see just how much borderline IP theft happens when it's asked to create videos of famous movies and video games. Should be interesting indeed.So, are you one of the lucky ones to have gained access to Veo 2 in Gemini Advanced? If so, have you tried it? What do you think?
MattSholtz
ICYMI: It looks like Wear OS is going to make it easier to talk to Google Assistant
Quick access to Google Assistant is one of Wear OS's biggest perks, and soon, that access could get even quicker. According to an APK teardown from Android Authority, code in a recent version of the Google app makes reference to a raise-to-talk feature on Wear OS. The teardown doesn't explain exactly what that means, but it seems likely it'll let users talk to Google Assistant (and eventually, Gemini) simply by raising their watch and speaking, skipping the "Hey Google" hotword altogether. Apple's got a similar feature on Apple Watch called Raise to Speak.Hit the link to the right to read more.
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-wear-os-raise-to-talk-leak/
TaylorKerns
Did you know Android devices will now automatically restart after 3 days?
It appears Google will start having Android phones restart after three days of inactivity, which kicks the device into a Before First Unlock (BFU) state, which is more secure than a phone lying around booted into the system. But I'm wondering what constitutes "inactivity," as I could see this new restart feature interrupting devices repurposed as servers or cameras. As long as Google accounts for such things as activity, we should be fine, though I'm still not sure I want Google in control of when the hardware I pay for and own is restarted in the first place.So, have you heard about this feature, and what exactly do you think of it now that you know it's a thing?
MattSholtz
Do you plan to use Gemini's new Google Photos commands?
A Google Photos app has been added to Gemini, and with this, users can call up commands through Gemini to control Google Photos. You can ask Gemini to do things like "show me recent selfies," and Gemini will pull up those selfies. Now that Gemini is replacing Assistant, new features like this are likely to drop until that happens. So, do you plan to use Gemini's new Google Photos prompts, or were you never an Assistant fan to begin with?
MattSholtz
Are you sad to see Skype go?
Skype is nearing its end date, which is May 5th (coincidentally, Cinco de Mayo, so make sure to spill a little margarita on the ground on behalf of Skype), and that'll be the last we see of the video telecommunication app. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives for anyone looking to jump to something new. So, are you sad to see Skype go, or had it lived long past its prime?
MattSholtz
Have you considered using a NAS at home?
I've been debating the idea for years, but I still use local wired storage with my TV boxes. Upgrading to a NAS would be a time-saver, and I wouldn't have to sync hard drives anymore. I could just put everything on one NAS and connect to that from all of my devices. One of these days, I'm sure I'll take the plunge. But this got me wondering how many around here are already running a NAS at home. So, hands up, who here has ascended to the superiority of storing their content in one place that's always accessible online?
MattSholtz
Do you prefer Gboard or Swiftkey?
Microsoft's Swiftkey offers some fantastic features, like Copilot built in and a clipboard that's in the cloud and always accessible no matter which device you're using. But even with some standout features, Gboard is built into our phones, so a lot of people use it as a default. This got me wondering how many out there prefer Swiftkey over Gboard, and if you do, what features made the install worth it for you?
MattSholtz
Have you set up Android 15's Adaptive Vibration?
If you find you miss calls when your phone is on vibrate, you may want to take advantage of Android 15's Adaptive Vibration, which can sense the phone's surroundings, like your pocket, and adjusts how hard the device vibrates to ensure you notice the notification. It's a handy feature Pixel users should turn on if they haven't already.So, have you set up Adaptive Vibration on Android 15, or are you happy with the standard results?
MattSholtz
You can easily ditch Firefox without moving to Chrome
Firefox was once a browser known for user privacy. Mozilla even used this language, claiming it did not sell user data. Gone is that language with the arrival of a TOS that essentially claims the rights to whatever you input in the browser. Mozilla did some damage control once users freaked out, and it changed the language of the TOS, but its intention remains the same.Mozilla wants to add AI to Firefox in a desperate attempt to make money, and using AI means a third party will handle user data at some point in the chain, and once a third party has that data, well, under California law that constitutes a sale, because Mozilla will be providing that data for something in return, I.E, it's a transaction using your data as part of the deal. And sure, that user data may be scrubbed of identifying info, but if advertisers can get their hands on it through this third party, it can then be used to create a profile out of this data when combining it with the data bought from other companies,
MattSholtz
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Do you use Sign in with Google?
It may have started out convenient enough, Sign in with Google makes it easy to sign into a wide selection of websites, from Reddit to X (Twitter). But over the years, I've amassed a handful of accounts, and Google's handling of these accounts and which it randomly signs me in as is nothing short of infuriating. While it just so happens that the easiest solution to Google's account mess is using multiple accounts within Chrome, for me, more Google isn't the solution to Google's poorly designed account system, which is why I use a Firefox fork. Not only am I utterly sick of seeing pop-ups on every site asking me to sign in with a Google account (no wonder Google doesn't like adblockers), I'm sick of Google mixing my accounts when I'm trying to use bookmarks. I'm also sick of Google randomly signing me out when I do use Sign in with Google.So, do you begrudgingly use Sign in with Google while secretly hating it, or have you skipped the service altogether?
MattSholtz
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Have you installed the 4.0 update on your Boox e-reader?
It felt like Boox was beta-testing its 4.0 update for ages. But it is finally here, bringing with it a long list of changes, the biggest certainly being the new theming engine that really lets you dial in how your device's UI looks. So, were you eagerly waiting for the 4.0 update for your Boox device, installing it immediately, or are you not fussed whether your e-reader is up to date or not?
MattSholtz
Will you use Apple Maps on your Android phone?
Apple Maps may have an app on iOS, but it does not offer an app for Android. But limiting Apple Maps to an app doesn't help with adoption, which is why a desktop browser version has been in beta testing. Well, Apple recently added support for mobile browsers, and that includes mobile browsers on Android, which means Android users can now use Apple Maps on their phones. Keep in mind that it's a beta, and the functionality is limited compared to the iOS app. Still, it's worth a look if you haven't checked it out. Will you be checking out Apple Maps on your Android devi
MattSholtz
