One of the best features of Android is the ability to customize almost any visual element and make it your own. Before the days of custom launchers, interactive live wallpaper and icon and theme packs, Android introduced one key element of personalization, the widget. A widget is an element that can be applied to the Home screen of your Android device and can be re-sized to fit your design preferences.

One great way to dress up and personalize your Android phone is to set up custom backgrounds for your phone’s homescreen.  You can choose a static image as your wallpaper, or opt for something dynamic: live wallpapers. In the latter category, there are generally two kinds: plain animated wallpapers (which, as you might have guessed, show stuff that move) and functional wallpapers (i.e., live wallpapers that also perform various phone-related functions such as text messages, time and date, weather, social media interaction, photo slideshows, and the like).

Every year Samsung relies on the Galaxy Note series to serve as a showcase for its technical advancements, such as multiple cameras or Dex for PC-like computing. Invariably, the Note sets the tone for Samsung’s mobile phones for the next 12 months, as some of the tech will trickle down to subsequent models. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20, expected to arrive in August, is on deck to play catch up in some ways.

And just like that, the Nexus 5 is official. Google just took the veil off its highly anticipated pure Android smartphone, confirming most of the leaks and rumors that have circulated in the past month. With the new Nexus 5, comes KitKat, the refreshed version of Android that we’ve all been craving ever since Google announced it officially in early September. We’re poring through the official information to give you the lowdown on all the new features and tweaks in Android 4.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google representatives reportedly told a government panel that the Assistant records user audio even when it’s not summoned. However, Google reassured Android Authority that no nefarious activities are taking place with Assistant recordings. Update: July 1, 2021 (10:44 AM ET): Google has responded to an email query from Android Authority about what the company stated in its deposition (see original article below) and how the Google Assistant records user audio.

TL;DR Google launched Assistant Go on the Play Store. The app is mostly the same as the regular Assistant app, though there are a few key missing features. Assistant Go was designed to be as lightweight as possible while still retaining plenty of functionality. Google released its lightweight Assistant Go app to the Play Store. This is the latest in the growing lineup of resource-friendly apps designed for the Android Go platform.

Yes, you can get malware on a macOS product. It doesn’t happen very often, but it is frustrating when it does. Usually, it only happens if you install some shady software from an unknown source. Apple has several safeguards to prevent it, but sometimes things happen. If you’re here, it’s because you want to know if your Mac has malware and how to get rid of it. We’ll show you how to check for and remove malware from a Mac.

Apple’s 2020 line-up brings a new yet familiar design language, even faster processors, better cameras, and last but not least — MagSafe. The feature adds magnets to the iPhone. They automatically align Apple’s new charging puck as well as accessories to the back of the phone. The return of MagSafe — a feature Apple used for MacBook chargers for years — also paints a very clear picture of what Apple intends for future iPhones.

TL;DR Shortwave is a new email client that borrows some of the best features from Google Inbox. It’s the brainchild of a few former Google employees. It has both free and paid plans. Google Inbox is long dead. The experimental email client launched in 2014 and pioneered many useful features such as bundled emails. However, Google retired the product in 2019 in favor of the new Gmail. If you still miss the good ol’ Inbox, you might be pleased to know that a bunch of ex-Googlers have brought some of its best features to life in the form of a new email client called Shortwave.

It’s flagship season and that means plenty of high profile releases from LG, Google, and more. Now Razer is joining the fray, with its newly announced Razer Phone 2. The original model was one of 2017’s most surprising flagships, offering an 120Hz display, a big battery, and plenty of horsepower. How does the company’s second release fare in the specs department? We’ve got the answers for you — check out the specs table below.