Will you use Apple Maps on your Android phone?

After misspelling an engraving on the watch, delaying the launch of the device, now that OnePlus has officially launched its Watch 3, apparently the company forgot to tell the US the price would be going up to $500. OnePlus has refused to comment on the price discrepancy, even though it told everyone previously that the watch would launch at $350. This smells like tariff shenanigans, but with how cagey OnePlus is being, I can’t say that ignoring questions about the $150 price hike paints the company in a good light.

So, are you planning to pay this premium for OnePlus’s new watch without the company explaining why, or will you skip the device altogether?

Both apps offer a lot of positives and really function similarly, housing your credit, debit, and reward cards in one convenient place. I gravitate towards Google Wallet, as I tend to use Google devices, but I also see it as something that will work on any device I choose to use. Samsung Wallet can also be loaded on just about any Android device, but I don’t tend to use Samsung devices, so I never really had a reason to start using the app in the first place.

But what about you? Which app do you prefer, Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet?

Google Keep recently updated its widgets to follow Google’s latest design guidelines, and they look great. Personally, it’s my favorite note-taking app, but I rarely used the widgets. Thanks to this update, I now have one on a secondary screen, speeding up my access behind a swipe and a click instead of digging into my app drawer.

So, have you seen Keep’s newly redesigned widgets, and if so, are you happy with the new use of space and lack of excessive padding?

It looks like Proton Mail is getting a new app for Android and iOS that should pack better performance and an offline mode, an often-requested feature. It’s not the only Proton app that will be seeing an overhaul either, with Proton Calendar also expected to see an app rewrite. So, did you hear about this new upcoming app for Proton Mail, and if so, are you looking forward to the new app or dreading it?

As a tech enthusiast, I can easily see the mechanisms behind a lot of the tech we use and how a lot of what we use is designed to maximize earning potential. And what with barriers to entry at an all-time low, thanks to the internet, anyone can stack up subs without even really thinking about it. I try to keep my video subscriptions down to two at a time, and sometimes I will alternate, saving some money as I go instead of subscribing to everything at once.

But what about you? How many streaming services do you subscribe to, are you limiting how much you spend, or have you gone all out and subscribed to everything?

Apparently, the YouTube TV app has disappeared for some Roku users. Forcing an update may help, and then there is always the regular YouTube app as a backup to find your YouTube TV content. Still, it’s inconvenient to have a device change behind your back by removing or hiding installed apps from the UI, so it’s understandable that some people are upset.

So, have you experienced this issue? Did YouTube TV disappear from your Roku device, and if so, has it returned?

We recently covered a few ways that users can avoid ads on YouTube. While I’m currently eyeballing YouTube Premium Lite, paying may not appeal to everyone, which got me wondering what methods AP’s readers prefer to skip ads on YouTube. So, do you have any particular ways to skip ads on YouTube, or do you simply roll with whatever is served?

Well, now you have. Check the image below. That’s Google’s new XR glasses, or at least a fresh prototype. They mostly look like real glasses, though it helps that modern trends lean toward thick frames. Some of the glasses’ capabilities were demonstrated, showcasing live translation and image recognition. So, what do you think of Google’s XR glasses, and are you eager to use AI with the help of a pair of glasses on your face?

Hi I’m trying to figure out what phone I should get. I’ve been using a Samsung ultra 22 for the last 6 months I don’t really care for it. Prior to that I was using a Huawei p30 Pro for 5 years 2019 till 6 months ago! I’ve been owning smartphones for 20 years, the best smartphone I’ve ever owned was that Huawei phone. Living in Canada, just like in the US Huawei phones aren’t available, at least not for the moment.

What is a good Android phone, that I can go out and buy?

Thanks

Disclaimer: This is shared by one of our readers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Android Police.

Google Fi is currently running a promotion for the Pixel 9a, where if you sign up for the carrier’s service, they’ll give you a Pixel 9a for free. There is a stipulation, of course: you have to stick with your plan for 24 months. But that holds true for any carrier contract where you get a free or discounted phone, so it’s not like it’s unexpected. So, are you getting a Pixel 9a from Google Fi to take advantage of this slick promotion?

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 will no longer receive updates, which means it has reached the end of its life. For anyone hoping for an extension, it would seem the phone had already received one into 2024, so another isn’t in the cards. So, will you miss the phone now that it will no longer receive updates, or are you more interested in what Samsung’s newest efforts will yield?

I like to build keyboards, and thanks to this hobby, I’ve learned a little about the different coatings available for metal. One of my favorites is Cerakote, which allows for all kinds of intense colors and patterns since it’s basically sprayed on like paint. Well, I’ve always felt that phones should take advantage of ceramic coatings in order to offer a plethora of colors, something severely lacking in the smartphone world (in my opinion). Leave it to Asus to prove my point with some incredibly slick (and limited) laptop models covered in what the company calls Ceraluminum, which sure sounds like ceramic-coated metal to me. More to the point, the machines are gorgeous, all thanks to the patterns you can achieve with ceramic coatings, not to mention the added texture, for a finish that is matte (avoiding fingerprints).

Basically, I really would like to see more of our devices offering ceramic coatings so we can finally get some exciting colors for our devices (I’m so sick of pastels).

So, ChatGPT and I were casually talking today, and I was using that same conversation for a very long time. And then, when I read his last message, I got the warning that states that I have reached limit for conversation length and that I can continue chatting in new conversation.

Have you ever noticed this?

Disclaimer: This is shared by one of our readers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Android Police.

I have to admit I’m a Spotify stan, and have been for years. Yes, I’m impatiently waiting for lossless streaming, but overall, I find the service’s recommendations are on point, even when the default shuffle isn’t a true shuffle. Of course, there are plenty here at AP who are fans of YouTube Music, and it’s easy to see why when subscribing also removes ads from YouTube’s videos (that may or may not have anything to do with music).

But this got me thinking about what our readers like to use. So shout it loud and proud! Which is your go-to music streaming service, and why?

Some Amazon Echo Show device users are starting to gain access to Alexa+, though the rollout so far has been a little rocky with buggy and missing features. I have yet to test the new AI, though there is a chance someone in the AP audience has. So, has anyone had the opportunity to give Alexa+ a whirl? If so, what do you think of it?

It looks like Google is testing a redesigned feed for Discover, and I have to say, it looks pretty bad. Apparently, Google is testing out full-width images for articles, and it simply looks amateurish, not like a polished news feed created by one of the richest companies in the world. But what do I know, I’m no designer.

So, have you seen the new Discover feed design Google is currently testing (psst, it’s directly below), and if so, do you love it or hate it?

RCS came to the iPhone with iOS 18, but the functionality didn’t land for everybody all at once. Google Fi subscribers, for example, didn’t have access to RCS on iPhone until iOS 18.4. That version is rolling out now, which means that you can finally text all of your many, many friends that use iPhones on Google’s MVNO. Check out the link to the right to learn more about RCS on Google Fi iPhones. 

I wasn’t sold on smart home equipment at first, but once I installed a smart thermostat, controlling my house’s temperature from anywhere had me sold. Now I have a smart doorbell, and a smart camera in the back, with plans to pick up a new mesh Wi-Fi system to replace an aging pack of Eero’s. In other words, I’m all in at this point.

What about you? Are you building out a smart home system, or are you fine with keeping things analog?

Apparently, Uber Eats had an exclusivity agreement with Domino’s Pizza, but this ends in May. Well, DoorDash has partnered with Domino’s and will soon be selling and delivering its pizza. But what’s more incredible is that Domino’s Pizza Drivers, in uniform, will be delivering DoorDash items from the diverse selection of participating brands. Soon enough, you may order some delicious Thai food to be greeted by a Domino’s driver. How about them apples?

So, were you aware there are exclusivity deals keeping the masses from ordering delicious pizza from their preferred food delivery company, and now that you know, are you relieved Domino’s is free of its Uber Eats shackles?

The Pixel 9a is slated to hit store shelves soon with the largest battery every used in a Pixel phone: 5,100mAh. That impressive capactity means the 9a should offer better battery life than other Pixels; Google quotes the 9a’s battery life at “30+” hours per charge, a step up from the “24+” hour quote the company provides for its Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL phones.

But the 9a will come with a feature Google calls Battery Health Assistance, which will use software gradually reduce the battery’s capacity over time. Google’s reasoning is that doing this will preserve battery health over time — but what good is a healthy battery with artificially limited capacity? Hit the link to the right to read more about Battery Health Assistance.

What do you think? Would you buy a phone that’s practically guaranteed worse battery life over time?