Name the most underrated Android app

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?

We recently covered six reasons why a Google One subscription may not be renewed. With falling physical storage prices and heavy competition, it’s easy to see why. So, have you considered jumping ship, or are you going to renew your Google One subscription the next time it expires?

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.

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.

Now that the iPhone is sporting RCS in its messaging app, bringing together Android and iOS users for easy messaging that doesn’t ruin images and videos, I’ve been wondering how many of our readers know someone on iOS who is indeed taking advantage of RCS. For me, I know my friend group that uses iOS has remarked on the improvement in our group chats. But what about you, have you noticed your iOS friends and family are using RCS? Hit the comments to let us know, as I truly wonder if many iOS users give a hoot about messaging with RCS.

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”?

We recently covered 10 awesome Android Auto apps that many of our readers may not know about. My favorite is MyRadar, which is the same as it is on my phone, so it’s no surprise there. It’s assuredly a handy app to have in the car so that you’re always on top of the weather. But what about you? What’s your favorite Android Auto app, unknown or popular, what app makes you happy you’re using Android Auto?

I know what mine is; it is the Pixel 5. Perhaps an obvious answer, but it truly is the phone that stands out to me the most over my many years of buying and using smartphones. Sure, HTC offered some very slick devices back in the Windows Mobile days, but if I were hard-pressed to name the one phone that stands above all others, at least in my opinion, the Pixel 5 is it. It was incredibly affordable while offering stock Android, which was a big deal at the time of bloated UIs from the competition, and frankly, it was the perfect size, pocketable yet useable, something I truly miss even in 2024. 

But after all of these years, what phone stood out to you as your favorite? What still sticks in your memory as the phone no one has been able to beat?

The beauty of Android has always been its customization, and that often starts with your launcher. While the third-party launcher has lost some of its prominence in recent years, popular options like Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, and Niagara Launcher are still pushing things forward.

There are plenty of streaming music apps to choose from, from Spotify to Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. Despite the lack of originality in the app names, all of these services are fairly well received by their users. I’ve been subscribed to Spotify for years but have considered moving to Amazon Music for its high-quality audio. I’ve yet to take the plunge, but if Spotify continues to drag its feet instead of launching high-quality audio, the move seems inevitable. This is why I appreciate that we have so many excellent choices at our disposal.

Still, with so many to choose from, I thought it might be fun to ask what everyone is using and why. So hit the comments below to share which music streaming app is your current platform of choice.

YouTube used to offer a few countries a Premium Lite plan, which was basically a cheaper subscription that removed ads from YouTube. Google killed this plan in 2023. Since then, Google has fought against a rise in adblocker use on YouTube, almost like the more it cracked down on their use, the more this had the opposite effect. Which is why it comes as no surprise to hear rumors Google wants to bring back its YouTube Premium Lite plan. I’m all for it, but I wonder if it’s too late to entice the adblocker users now that they are getting what they want for free.

So, if Google does bring back YouTube’s Premium Lite plan, will you subscribe?

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.

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

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.

With Manifest V3 making headlines recently when it automatically disabled uBlock Origin for a bunch of users, it may have occurred to some that it’s time to switch browsers. And there are many fine choices on Android, though many are based on the same engine as Chrome. For those who want to move away from Google’s grip over the Blink engine, there is always Firefox and its forks (like Fennec) that run the Gecko engine, and let me tell you, Firefox indeed offers some excellent features.

So, do you happen to use a non-Chrome browser, and if so, which would you say is your favorite on Android?

I recently switched to Projectivy Launcher because I was sick of Google adding more and more recommendations into my Android TV interface, more or less shoving advertisements for things I didn’t want to see, into my living room. Not only does my Shield TV run better when it doesn’t have to load videos in the background of the UI, I regained full control of how my TV looks.

I also know there are many out there who are perfectly fine with Google’s recommendations and enjoy Android/Google TV for what it is. But this got me thinking about how many people out there like me have installed a third-party launcher to clean things up. So, sound off in the comments whether or not you’ve considered or are using a third-party launcher on your Google/Android TV, as I have a feeling this trend is growing.

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?

There is another One UI 7 beta coming to the S24, which means users will have longer to wait for the stable version to drop. So, are you in the camp that prefers stable software, so don’t mind the delay, or are you sick or waiting for what S25 users are already enjoying?

Google is testing a new way to answer and decline calls through the Phone app. Yep, Google is finally adding a way to swipe left and right to answer and decline calls. Finally, we won’t have to swipe up or down anymore, which can be confusing when you switch phones often, because some brands reverse the order to answer and decline. To me, up and down swipes for calls don’t feel natural, and I’d much rather prefer side swipes.

But what about you? Are you ready for a new way to swipe your calls, or do you prefer the up and down motion currently used?

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.