Will you renew your Google One subscription the next time it expires?

Google’s latest smartphones are excellent pieces of hardware — there’s a reason the Pixel 9 Pro won our Smartphone of the Year award — but the Pixel’s software experience has always been the brand’s bread and butter. I’m sure everyone has plenty of favorite software experiences on the Pixel, but personally, no amount of AI can top Now Playing. Google’s always-listening, offline-ready Shazam alternative launched with the Pixel 2 in 2017, and I’ve been a huge fan of it ever since. Gathering an updated list of every song that plays around you at all times is incredible, whether you’re scrolling through a DJ’s set or enjoying dinner at a restaurant.

In its near-decade of existence, Google has continued to build it out, adding features like online search — for when your Pixel’s database of tracks isn’t enough — album art, and default music services. And yet, despite the tool’s popularity, no one has taken the initiative to follow in Google’s footsteps. While I wouldn’t say it’s enough to k

Over here at Android Police, you’ll find a lot of people who like Android more than iOS, perhaps not all for the same reasons, but in our minds, Android is still the best place to be. But even if you feel this is a subject that is up for debate, there is no denying Android 15 offers plenty of features iOS doesn’t. As a matter of fact, we recently wrote about five ways Android 15 is better than iOS 18, so if you’d like to read more about what makes Android so great compared to iOS, click through and enjoy the list.

We have a lot of good choices when it comes to e-mail apps on the Play Store. Sure, there is Gmail, a staple that comes installed on our phones. But there is also Proton Mail, Thunderbird, and even Outlook. And that’s just the big stuff; there are plenty more to pick from. So, out of all the e-mail apps we have to choose from, which is your weapon of choice?

I moved away from Chrome once I caught wind of Manifest V3 and how it would hobble ad blockers. Sure, lite versions of ad blockers have popped up since Manifest V3 was implemented in Chrome, but I was already well-established with Firefox, my current browser of choice. I can sync all of my data across all of my Firefox installs across my operating systems, just like Chrome, but of course, I have the ability to block ads across every OS without having to worry about the shortcomings of Manifest V3.

But what about you? Which browser do you prefer, and why do you prefer it? From Samsung Internet to Edge to Brave to Chrome, there are plenty of choices, so which do you prefer for your web browsing needs?

I know I sure do; I get a lot of fake shipping notifications, daily it seems, sometimes multiple a day. And I can see it plain as day, the numbers are foreign, typically from the UK, a dead giveaway the messages aren’t from UPS, DHL, or FedEx. I see a lot of complaints online too. So, have you, too, been receiving RCS spam messages as of late, or have you somehow escaped the fate of the masses?

Google has added Tasks to Calendar, Search, and Assistant, all the while also offering a standalone app, and each of the services that offer Tasks offers the exact same functionalities, begging the question of whether the app is even necessary at this point. So, if Google were to finally kill off its Tasks app, would you miss it? I think I would, as I prefer my apps to stand alone rather than dip into, say, a calendar app to adjust my tasks.

It’s a simple enough question, and yet it is likely few of us will agree on. It would seem choosing the perfect note-taking app is very personal, and I understand why we each have our own unique use cases. For me, I skip the grocery lists and go right for ideation. Keep is where I prefer to jot down notes for myself, usually title ideas for work, but I also keep track of fancy words I’d like to use and even keep lists of things I collect, like Game Boy games. All things any note-taking app should be able to handle, and yet I prefer the simplicity of Keep.

But what about you? What do you use note-taking apps for, and which app is your favorite?

Apparently, YouTube Premium users across the world have been receiving emails about impending price hikes. Those in Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy will see higher fees across the service, including family plans, and Switzerland and Sweden will see higher Family subscriptions, with the Middle East, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia receiving higher Premium prices. And this is just what has been reported by users, so expect more territories to get hit (read more in the linked article).

But with this change, we here at AP have been wondering how many users will be canceling their YouTube Premium plans when the higher fees drop? It’s not like YouTube Premium is priced very well to begin with, with many taking issue with the cost not reflecting what you get (especially if you don’t need YouTube Music) and rising fees sure won’t help this situation. So, will you be one of the people dropping the service, or do you feel the higher fees are justified?

The Google Play Store is absolutely filled to the brim with messaging apps, and Google has certainly made plenty of contributions to this app type. But at the end of the day, we all have our favorites. For me, I use Google Messages as my primary messaging app, thanks to its RCS support, sending media to friends and family rarely poses an issue. Still, I have a soft spot for Telegram because it offers speedy communication, as well as a desktop app.

But what about you? Which messaging app is your favorite, and which would you choose to use if you were only allowed to use one? Hit the comments to shout your choice loud and proud.

It’s looking like Google is gearing up to change the hotword to trigger Gemini AI to “Hey Gemini,” which makes sense and almost feels a bit more personal and human compared to “Hey Google.” So I like the idea. I hope we switch soon. But what about you? Are you ready to say “Hey Gemini,” or do you prefer the old way of saying “Hey Google”?

Taking pictures of the night sky isn’t something that ever occurred to me. I’ll use my phone to take quick shots of interesting things while out and about around town, but that’s about as much use as my phone cameras get. But, since I purchased a Pixel 9, I figured why not give its astrophotography mode a shot. And so I’ve dabbled a few times with mixed results. I can’t say it’s something I’ll go out of my way to use.

This got me wondering how many others out there make use of the Pixel’s astrophotography mode. So, if you’re a night sky shooter thanks to your Pixel, sound off in the comments below, and if you have a slick shot to share, all the better.

Say what you want about AI, but it does appear to have one use that anyone can enjoy, and that’s wallpaper creation. I know I’ve dabbled with image creation in Gemini and Pixel Studio and have come away with some quality results. But there are still some issues with AI, like the inability to spell words correctly or show the correct amount of fingers. But if you stick to images without words or people, you’ll definitely find better results.

So, have you been playing with AI wallpaper generation, and if so, are you finding the results worthwhile? Hit the comments to share your favorite AI-generated wallpapers, and let’s see who is getting the best results with their creations.

It’s out. The first Android 16 beta is here for anyone to test. But will you? I know I’m not the biggest fan of running beta software. Sure, plenty here at AP love to go digging to see what’s new, but that’s not my bag. I prefer a stable OS. But what about you? Have you thrown caution to the wind and installed the Android 16 beta, or are you more like me and happy keeping things stable and boring?

In case you missed it, Gemini is rolling out a more compact UI on Android, essentially shrinking down the box so it only fills a small portion of the bottom of your screen, which is preferred to a box that takes up half the screen. But like most Google rollouts, these things come in waves, and so Gemini’s new compact design isn’t yet available to all. So, are you one of the lucky ones who have gained access to the new compact Gemini, or are you still waiting for the server-side update to land?

One of the best things about Android is that it is highly customizable, whether you’re using a Galaxy, Pixel, or any other device. What launcher you use can have a major impact on your customizability, which is why many use apps from third parties. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t easily theme a device from Samsung or Google; they both offer plenty of customization on their own.

So, what’s your perfect setup, are you a third-party launcher person, or do you like to roll your phone stock? In either case, let’s see your home screen; this way, everyone can get a feel for the type of themeing going on in Android land. So hit the comments below and show us your perfect home screen setup.

While we still don’t know when the first One UI 7 beta will drop, it’s coming nonetheless. Some screenshots have already leaked, and plenty of rumors are swirling about incoming features, as the UI is expected to see a major design overhaul. One leak suggests there will be a split notification panel, and another hints at live activity in the lockscreen and status bar. More or less, big changes are expected, so even though it is early days with little nailed down, there are already some possible features to look forward to.

So, what leaked feature has you most excited for One UI 7’s incoming drop? Hit the comments to let us know. For me, the split notification panel sounds like it could be a great addition.

There is no denying that Google is pushing Gemini into every space it can muster, from Messages to Gmail, there is no getting away from it. Sure, there is also the app, as well as a subscription tier for the app, but it would seem Google feels we all need some convincing to use its AI by shoving the service into everything. So this got me thinking: perhaps few are actually using Gemini, which is why I wanted to ask. How often do you use Gemini, or do you even use it at all? Hit the comments, as I have a sneaking suspicion nobody is all that interested in AI.

I was recently complaining about how my spam call problem has grown worse during my use of my Pixel’s Call Screen feature. It seems like the more I use it, the more spam I get. But judging by the comments, I appear to be in the minority. So, what are you using Call Screen for, and are you finding it to be helpful in your day-to-day?

Back when Android was still young, the Google Play Store (at the time called Android Market) was actually fun to explore. It wasn’t filled with endless advertisements yet, it was a simple list categorized into genres. Heck, there was still a new release section back then, which is now so embarrassing that Google removed it from the website. Things have changed, and not for the better. The Play Store is a chore to navigate nowadays, to the point I know I go out of my way to avoid it. It’s a cluttered mess that would rather push apps you don’t want instead of actually using your years of data to showcase actual interests.

So are you also sick of the Play Store, like me, and avoid it at all costs? Or are you fine with the clutter as long as you can easily install new apps and games? Hit the comments to share, and let’s commiserate.

My Android journey started with the HTC Hero on Sprint, way back in 2009. It had a chin and a trackball, and I loved it. Not only was HTC firing on all cylinders back then, but the phone designs were also actually fun, unlike how boring things are today. Part of that excitement also included the software, where the HTC Hero shipped with Android 1.5 and eventually got updated to Android 2.1. These were early days, and back then I was a theming machine hot off modding Windows Mobile devices, so was deep into changing how my Android devices looked, like when Android 2.1 dropped, I was installing ROMs, apps, and themes that got me the old Android 1.5 look with its white drawer tab. Sure, plenty was rouch around the edges, but the excitement of making your phone yours was as relevant back then as it is now.

So, where did your Android journey start? Which Android version was your first introduction to the OS?