Latest news with #AndyWalker
Android Authority
12 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
NordVPN joins the scam call fight on Android
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR NordVPN has launched a Scam Call Protection feature for Android users in the US. It flags suspicious numbers using metadata, without listening to or storing call content. The feature works on any Android device with the NordVPN app and Premium plan. Scam calls aren't slowing down and are getting smarter in many cases. While most modern smartphones already do a decent job of flagging suspicious numbers, NordVPN thinks it can do better. The company has just launched a new Scam Call Protection feature for Android phone users in the US. In a blog post published this week, NordVPN explained that the tool analyzes call metadata to detect potential fraud before you even pick up. If it spots something suspicious, it flashes a warning message next to the incoming number. The feature is included with NordVPN's Premium plan and works through the existing app, whether connected to a VPN or not. Once enabled in the Threat Protection tab, it runs quietly in the background. If you've used a recent Pixel or Samsung phone, this might all sound pretty familiar. Google offers built-in AI-powered scam detection on Pixels, including mid-call warnings that alert you if the conversation starts to resemble a scam. Samsung uses a system called Smart Call that can identify spam calls and even block them outright. NordVPN's approach differs in a couple of ways. Unlike Google's tool, it doesn't process any audio — just metadata. And while Samsung's protection is tied to its own phone software, NordVPN's version works on any Android device running its app. It's also designed with privacy in mind, storing no call content and keeping detection on-device. The company says future updates will add features like caller ID for unknown numbers, better categorization (such as finance or healthcare), and even the option for you to report suspicious calls. It also plans to bring Scam Call Protection to iPhones and other countries. You might not see this feature as worth the NordVPN Premium price alone, but with scam call losses topping $2 billion in the US last year, the layer of defense is probably welcome for those already on the plan. Follow
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
NotebookLM's impressive new feature is a godsend for visual learners
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google has launched Video Overviews in NotebookLM, turning your notes into narrated slide videos. The AI can generate new visuals and mix them with your documents to explain complex topics. A redesigned Studio panel also lets users create multiple outputs per notebook. NotebookLM has gradually become one of Google's most useful tools for making sense of dense material, especially with its podcast-style Audio Overviews. Now it's adding a visual twist as Video Overviews are officially rolling out. The launch was confirmed in a Google Labs blog post this morning, following a teaser we spotted in May. Google trailed the idea of AI-generated videos built from your documents, with narrated slides, diagrams, and other visual touches to help explain things more clearly. That's exactly what's rolling out now. NotebookLM Video Overviews are available to all users in English, with more languages on the way. Unlike a basic slideshow of your uploaded content, the AI host creates new visuals on the fly to help illustrate concepts, while also pulling in things like diagrams, quotes, and numbers from your documents. Google says this makes it especially useful for walking through data, step-by-step processes, or more abstract material that benefits from visual context. The current version focuses on narrated slides, but other video formats are in development. You can also steer the video to suit your needs. Want a beginner-friendly overview? Something for your team that skips the basics? You can ask for that. The customization options are similar to what you get with Audio Overviews, just in video form. Google's also revamping the whole Studio panel in NotebookLM. The main change is that you're no longer stuck with just one of each output per notebook, allowing you to make multiple Video Overviews, Mind Maps, Reports, and so on, all in the same place. There's even a new layout that lets you listen to one overview while checking out another. Follow
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Android Authority
Google says pick Maps or Waze in the car — here's how I use both
Andy Walker / Android Authority Despite its litany of flaws, I love Android Auto. It makes driving more enjoyable by offering easy access to my music collection and putting important navigation information front and center. However, it does have some silly limitations that hamper the latter. Google Maps is my primary navigation platform. It's what my Android Auto instance boots into, and I don't necessarily have a problem with that. It's relatively reliable for daily commutes and has an approachable, familiar visual design. Still, I've also grown fond of Waze's focus on driving tools, audio alerts, and broader voice actor selection. It's also arguably the better option for longer trips. Do you want more Waze features in Google Maps? 0 votes Yes. I prefer using Maps but I do miss Waze's features when I use it. NaN % Yes, I think Google should just combine the two apps into one. NaN % No, it's not necessary. I'm happy to switch to the one I need. NaN % No, it doesn't matter to me. I don't use Google Maps or Waze. NaN % Both apps have pros and cons, but there's one big problem: Android Auto only allows one mapping app to be used at any time — you can't even run one in the background. It's either Maps or Waze. At least that's what it wants you to think. I've found a way to run Google Maps and Waze simultaneously while in the car, and here's how you can take advantage of this workaround too. Why I use both Waze and Google Maps while driving Andy Walker / Android Authority Google owns two navigation apps, each with its strengths and weaknesses; it just so happens that they complement each other. This presents a problem for drivers. You see, I like individual features and elements within each app. If I cherry-picked these and rolled them into a single product, I'd have an incredible driving app at my fingertips. Google Maps offers unrivalled points of interest insights, which I take full advantage of when dawdling through new towns. It's also easier to visualize traffic flow thanks to its green/yellow/red intensity scale. I can easily switch my gaze to my screen and back to gauge busy areas, keeping my eyes on the road for longer spells. Waze is an app made for driving, while Google Maps is a mapping app with a driving mode. When used together, they're brilliant. Waze, alternatively, offers a far richer experience for those actively invested in road conditions. It's sustained by its active and dedicated community, which contributes real-time information to the service. Users are encouraged to report incidents on a route, including potholes, traffic congestion, animals, stopped cars, fender benders, and even police presence. There are a slew of alert types, and each is useful. Waze also includes other must-have features, like speed limit warnings and a current speed readout. The former is something I've used so often, especially if I missed a limit sign or along regional roads undergoing maintenance. Andy Walker / Android Authority To describe each app in a sentence, Waze is an app made for driving, while Google Maps is a mapping app with a driving mode. Both have benefits. You can use them individually as Google intended, but they're so much better together. This problem arises when I'm in the car and choosing which app to use. As mentioned, Android Auto only allows me to run one navigation app, so I have to choose between the two or switch from one to the other. The latter option is a distraction, and that's where this workaround comes in. How to run Waze and Google Maps simultaneously in Android Auto cars Andy Walker / Android Authority In the image above, I'm using Google Maps on my car screen and Waze on my phone. I mute Google Maps' audio directions and turn Waze's on. I can then follow Maps' visual cues on my dashboard while hearing Waze's alerts and guidance. It's brilliant. With this workaround, I can run Google Maps on my car screen and still receive Waze's guidance and audio alerts. I should note that with this workaround, you can still only run a single mapping app on your Android Auto display. That isn't about to change due to the visual clutter two simultaneously running mapping apps would cause and the lack of screen resolution. However, the second app will run on your phone alongside it without issue. This works both ways, too. You can run Google Maps on your phone and Waze on your car's screen, or switch it around as I prefer. You can also choose your preferred audio guidance app. Which navigation app do you prefer? 1748 votes Google Maps 48 % Waze 47 % Neither, I use an alternative 4 % So, here's how to run both Google Maps and Waze within a car with Android Auto: Open Waze on your phone, and select a destination. Start navigation. Next, start your car and connect your phone to Android Auto. I have wireless Android Auto via a cheap dongle. Wired Android Auto users will need to connect the phone via a cable. Next, on the Android Auto screen, open Google Maps. Select the same destination that you did for Waze, and start navigation. Waze will continue running on your phone while Maps runs on the car's screen. I prefer Waze's audio guidance, so mute Google Maps and ensure that Waze's sounds are on. To run Google Maps on your phone and Waze on the car's screen, flip these instructions and start Maps on your phone first before connecting to Android Auto. While I use Google Maps and Waze as example apps, I have tried running OsmAnd on Android Auto with Waze, which also works. The app is perfect for viewing a road's surface and condition in the middle of the country. The best of both worlds? Not quite. Andy Walker / Android Authority I've spent months testing this setup, trying to break it or prove it useless, but I just can't find a game-breaking fault. This might be the best navigation trick I've ever stumbled upon. That being said, there are some caveats worth mentioning. Waze and Google Maps differ slightly when it comes to reading your position. For instance, I noticed that Waze can be a few meters behind Maps. We're talking 30 feet or less, but even so, the turn-by-turn navigation provided by Waze ensured that I took the correct turn, not the one before it, as Maps would sometimes fool me into. From disagreements to increased battery life, running Google Maps and Waze side-by-side does have some drawbacks. Google Maps and Waze often disagree on the best route, which can present a challenge when navigating the inner city. If you're in an unfamiliar urban area, I'd suggest running one or the other, not both. However, the two apps are perfect together when out on the open road or when few alternative paths exist. Andy Walker / Android Authority Then there's the practical implications of running a navigation app duo, both vying for CPU time, your GPS, and mobile data. This workaround uses a lot of battery life. AccuBattery claims Android Auto's discharge rate was 14.9%/h during a brief test session while using the workaround. This drained a sip of battery life in the less than half an hour required, but consider this discharge rate for longer journeys. My Galaxy S24 FE also runs hotter using this method, so be aware of your device's temperature when cruising in the summer. Google will likely never merge Waze's features into Maps, and that's probably for the best. Even though I often feel that its premier navigation app could use more dedicated driving smarts, it's an app built for all travelers — cyclists, walkers, commuters, not just drivers. I'm just happy I've found a workaround that works best for me on the road, and now you can enjoy it too. Follow
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
I was a Niagara Launcher doubter until I built my ultimate productivity home screen
Andy Walker / Android Authority There was a time when Nova Launcher was the only home screen app I'd consider using on my Android phones. It was the pinnacle of the genre, offering a dizzying array of customization options and a wealth of search features. However, as my need for a launcher that enhances focus and productivity grew, Nova fell off my radar. I began exploring the many alternatives available. My current launcher choice is Kvaesitso, thanks to its unique vertically biased design and quick search capabilities. I've also tried stock setups with Pixel Launcher and One UI Home, and even gave Microsoft Launcher a spin for a few weeks. However, more recently, I've been using the latest version of Niagara Launcher. This wasn't because I wanted a change, but to test one of its new features for a hands-on piece. Surprisingly, it's still taking care of my app launching duties as I write this. What is your home screen philosophy? 0 votes I focus on maximizing efficiency and productivity. NaN % I focus on aesthetics and visual delight. NaN % I cram as much as I can on my home screen, widgets and all. NaN % I don't really have one; I just use the default layout given to me. NaN % Other (explain your philosophy in the comments). NaN % As mentioned, I'm always on the lookout for the perfect setup that promotes efficiency and productivity. With Niagara, I believe I've found the best version of this yet. My vision for a productive home screen One UI Home Pixel Launcher The notions of productivity and efficiency vary for everyone, but for me, it's about minimizing clutter, making shortcuts easy to reach, and maintaining aesthetic consistency. I think of the Android launcher as a road system connecting me to arterial avenues on my phone. It should allow me to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Niagara Launcher's design philosophy dovetails with these goals. If you haven't used it before, it ditches the traditional gridded home screen design found in Nova and others, replacing it with a simplified favorites list and an alphabetical jump list for everything else. A home screen should have minimal clutter, make shortcuts easy to reach, and offer aesthetic consistency. Niagara covers all bases. I struggled with this concept when I first used the launcher several years ago, but with my changing demands, it makes plenty of sense now. It allows users to focus in on their list of treasured apps, reducing the time required to find them. It takes some getting used to, but I've found that it saves me heaps of time. My Niagara Launcher setup, and how I use the launcher's key features Andy Walker / Android Authority While Niagara can arrange apps on my home screen automatically by frequency of use, I prefer to organize my favorites manually. I have a habit of frequently opening certain apps, like Instagram, which I want pinned but not easily accessible. My favorites list is as follows: Camera WhatsApp Instagram Work (Folder) Weather (Folder) Gmail Google Maps Play Store Firefox RedReader Shopping (Folder) Google News All told, I have 12 favorites pinned to my home screen, exceeding Niagara's recommendation of eight, but I like to maximize my screen's real estate, and a dozen fits perfectly. Andy Walker / Android Authority So why this particular order? Well, these apps are loosely grouped. Those I access often — those numbered between 7 and 11 — are positioned lower down on the list as they're closest to my thumb for one-handed use. At the top, I include apps I use less frequently or those that I generally need two hands to use in any case, like Camera and WhatsApp. Other favorites are arranged around these areas. Niagara's folder and popup features ensure that I can access even more apps beyond those pinned to my favorites list. As indicated on the list, I use a combination of favorite shortcuts (shortcuts that immediately open the pinned app after a tap) and Niagara's folder system, which I absolutely love. Folders look and feel like regular favorites, but instead of opening a single app, they expand to reveal more in a pop-up menu. I have folders for Work, Weather, and Shopping, containing apps I frequently visit within these categories. Niagara allows me to edit the pop-up menus for every favorite, even favorite app shortcuts. I can essentially hide other apps within a single app's shortcut, which is beneficial for quickly accessing genre-adjacent apps. To elaborate, take my Firefox favorite shortcut. Its pop-up includes Firefox Focus, Chrome (personal), Chrome Canary (for work), Authy, and Bitwarden. WhatsApp includes Google Messages and Google Phone. Google Maps includes Waze, OsmAnd, and Tripadvisor. Pop-ups can also house widgets, and this little detail elevates Niagara's status in my book. Widgets don't expand to fill the entire screen but reside at the top of the pop-up context menu. Widgets can also be stacked, saving space and reducing visual clutter. I use this to great effect within the Weather folder, which houses two Meteogram weather widgets displaying a graph of conditions for the next 12 hours and the next seven days, as well as a Weather & Radar map. I'm also trialing a Google Keep widget that contains my shopping list in the Shopping folder. Finally, this setup wouldn't be complete without some notification management, and Niagara has become exceptional at quashing these distractions. The launcher displays a summary of notifications below related favorites and folders. For instance, when I get an SMS, that notification appears below WhatsApp's favorite. This little design detail lets me dismiss notifications directly from the home screen. The Notification Summary feature also provides a digest of notifications every few hours, allowing me to dismiss, action, or reschedule those repetitive but important pings I may have missed. Niagara makes it easy to view and dismiss notifications directly from the home screen. All it takes is a tap and a swipe. As I've mentioned, aesthetics are essential for me. Here's how I've set up the various visual elements. Wallpaper: I previously used a wallpaper changer, but with Niagara, I keep it simple. I use one of the launcher's built-in wallpapers from the Gradient folder. You can see some of the available options in the screenshots above. Icons: Niagara's icon masking system, Anycons, is the best I've used. It covers every app with a related icon, ensuring aesthetic coherence. To access it, go to Niagara settings > Look > Icons. My current favorite is Bright. Font: I use my phone's system font for consistency, but Niagara has plenty of great built-in font options. Adjust it by going to Niagara settings > Look > Font. Niagara also supports user-installed fonts, a feature I wish One UI Home had. Main Widget: I use the Niagara widget as the default home screen header, enabling Weather, Calendar, and Clock options. It also displays playing media from a select list of approved apps and my phone's battery percentage, which is often hidden on the status bar. Gestures: Niagara has minimal gesture support, but the available options are still quite useful. My current gesture setup includes: Swipe up: Search Swipe down: Quick shade/notifications Swipe right on a favorite: Access its pop-up and pinned widgets. This action also dismisses a notification when they're present. Niagara Button: This user-editable button allows a few more gestures, and a single tap shortcut. My setup includes: Tap: Search Swipe up: Open phone settings Every little feature Niagara provides saves me a small sliver of time. Over the course of the day, I'm saving minutes with this setup. Of course, this arrangement may not appeal to everyone, but it does hit all the notes I need it to. The most efficient home screen I've had in ages Andy Walker / Android Authority I first used Niagara in 2021 and even purchased a Pro license at the time, but I didn't quite appreciate its minimalist design. However, since returning to it in 2025, it has met my needs perfectly. It's also clear that the developers have put a lot of thought and effort into it. I've tried many productivity-first layouts on many launchers, but this Niagara setup is my favorite yet. I don't think my setup is perfect, though, and I foresee some changes in the coming weeks. There is some redundancy that I could smooth out, while I really should find a way to quell my Instagram habit for good. But for now, this arrangement has served me well. I've spent far less time using my phone as a fidget spinner and have Niagara to thank. What do you think of my setup? If you have any comments, perhaps suggestions on how I could improve it, insight on how you'd tackle this challenge, or any Niagara-related anecdotes, please drop a comment below. Follow
Android Authority
5 days ago
- Android Authority
Google makes great apps, but these aren't it if you ask me
Andy Walker / Android Authority Google is a software company and knows how to make great apps. I mean, I use apps like Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and Drive on a regular basis. Then there are its AI-focused apps like NotebookLM, which is by far the most underrated app in Google's arsenal. However, there are a few apps I think are way underdeveloped and need some serious work. They're simply too basic for me, or lack many of the features you get with the competition. I know Google is all about simplicity at times, but it's taking things too far with some of its apps. I want to discuss four of them and explain why I think they desperately need an upgrade. Let's dive in. Which of these apps is your least favorite? 0 votes Keep NaN % Tasks NaN % YouTube Music NaN % Wallpapers NaN % Google Keep Joe Maring / Android Authority As far as note-taking apps go, Google Keep is as basic as they get. Even fundamental things like text formatting are very basic, with Keep only offering a few options. While the app itself launched over a decade ago, these basic formatting features were only widely rolled out to the Android app in 2023, with the desktop version catching up two months ago. You have two heading options on offer, as well as the ability to bold, italicize, and underline text. That's it. You can't change colors, adjust the font size outside of the available headings, or create a bulleted list. While you can upload images to a note, you can't place them in a specific area, as they automatically show up on top. You can create labels to try and organize your notes, but you can't create notebooks like with most of Google Keep's competitors. I get that Google is trying to keep this as a simple note-taking app, since a lot of people are into that. Not everyone wants an app that's as feature-packed as Evernote or Notion. However, there's a limit, and I think adding things like improved formatting options and a better system for organizing notes would still retain that simple nature Google is going for and significantly improve the app's overall usability. I was a Keep user for years but ultimately decided to move to a rival app for these very reasons. Google Tasks Andy Walker / Android Authority I tried this for a while and really wanted to love it, especially since it's well-integrated with Gemini, but I just can't stand it. If you think Keep is basic, take a look at Tasks. It's as barebones as it gets. I've been using Todoist for years, and it still feels like a very simple app to use. However, it's packed with features that improve the overall experience and don't get in my way if I don't want to use them. I love that I can write out 'Do laundry every Wednesday at 6 PM' and the app will create a recurring task right away. Since it supports natural language input, I don't have to manually select a date or time; I just type it out. That's simple and efficient. With Google Tasks, you get none of that. I also love that I can give a priority level to each task, use filters and labels for improved organization, create sub-projects, and see what's on my to-do list just today for improved focus, among many other features. With Google Tasks, you get none of that. The only features I can highlight are the ability to create lists and add a star to a task so you can find it faster. All very basic stuff, really. With the amount of money, knowledge, and manpower Google has, it should be able to make a proper to-do list app instead of giving us this barebones offering, which I don't think many people use. YouTube Music Nathan Drescher / Android Authority This is by far the most developed app on this list. It's a good one overall, I'll give it that, but it still needs work since it's facing tough competition from Spotify and the likes. I want to minimize the number of apps I use, so I'd ideally like YouTube Music to be my main app for podcasts, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. The podcast feature on YouTube Music feels like an afterthought instead of being well-integrated into the overall experience. It's very hard to find podcasts to listen to, as its discovery feature is not great compared to rival apps. If you know what you want to listen to, you can search for it, and that's that. But if you want to explore new podcasts in specific genres or see what other people are into, then YouTube Music is not that great. Then there are the limitations of the free plan. The music stops playing as soon as I turn off the screen, which isn't a big deal when I'm at home, as I tend to watch videos and check out lyrics while listening to my favorite jams. But when I'm in my car, turning off the display is a must as I want to preserve battery life. I can't do that with YouTube Music, but I think I should be able to, especially since Google gets plenty of cash from the two ads I have to listen to every fourth or fifth song. Spotify's free plan, for instance, allows for background playback when the screen is off, and what's even more interesting is that the number of ads I have to listen to is significantly lower compared to YouTube Music. Sure, Spotify has other limitations YouTube Music doesn't, but I can live with those while listening to music in my car. Google Wallpapers Robert Triggs / Android Authority Pixel 8 Pro I recently broke my phone and had to switch to an old OnePlus for the time being. I turned it on and found a Google Wallpaper app installed that I forgot existed. A wallpaper app from the maker of the Pixel and all those fancy apps I use at all times sounds exciting, but that excitement went away a few minutes after opening it. The app is super basic and has a very small selection of wallpapers, especially compared to a rival app like Zedge. The wallpapers are separated into only ten categories, which seems incredibly low considering how many categories similar apps offer. The selection of wallpapers is limited. Not only is the selection limited, the wallpapers themselves aren't really that good. Most are very generic in my opinion, although I did manage to find a few good ones. What I find interesting is that Google hasn't even bothered connecting the app with Gemini, which would allow users to create custom wallpapers based on prompts. Google has a competitive advantage here that it's simply not utilizing. The app itself is just so basic that I don't know why Google made it in the first place. These are the four apps Google needs to work on, but let me know in the comments if there are any others you think are sub-par. Some of these bring back memories of apps like Google Podcasts, which were so basic for reasons unknown to me that Google decided to kill them Which of these apps is your least favorite? 0 votes Keep NaN % Tasks NaN % YouTube Music NaN % Wallpapers NaN % . I don't think that's going to happen with apps like Keep and YouTube Music, but I don't think a lot of people would miss an app like Wallpapers. At least, I wouldn't.
