Articles by Rowan Davies, Editorial Associate

Rowan is an Editorial Associate and Apprentice Writer for TechRadar. A recent addition to the news team, he is involved in generating stories for topics that spread across TechRadar's categories. His interests in audio tech and knowledge in entertainment culture help bring the latest updates in tech news to our readers.

He has been writing for publications since he started his studies at age 18. Rowan graduated from Cardiff University in 2023 after attaining a Master's in Creative Writing, and earlier a Bachelor's in Media, Journalism, and Culture. He began his journey as a writer at Cardiff University's Quench Magazine contributing to film/ TV, music, and culture sections, later becoming Music Section Editor.

In his free time, Rowan is a freelance writer for Cardiff-based culture magazine Buzz where he reviews music, film, and conducts interviews with featured guests. When he is not writing, you can find him at any given music gig, or endlessly scrolling TikTok immersing in celebrity news and drama.

Articles by: Rowan Davies

Belkin is pulling the plug on its Wemo smart home range tomorrow – here’s the full list and what to do

By Rowan Davies Published 30 January 26

As of January 31, Belkin is shutting down a large number of Wemo smart home devices, including wiping its app and cloud features.

Deezer just gave Spotify a great opportunity to combat the AI music wave — here's why the platform is making its AI-detection tool available to rivals

By Rowan Davies Published 29 January 26

Deezer has been tagging AI-generated content for a year, and now it's encouraging its competitors to do the same.

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A photo of BAFTA award statues next to a still of Odessa A'zion in Marty Supreme

BAFTA vs the Oscars – I’m a serial movie-watcher, and there's a clear winner in these nominations lists

By Rowan Davies Published 28 January 26

Chase Inifiniti and Odessa A'zion were snubbed at the Oscars, but their BAFTA nominations show which ceremony has better taste.

TikTok is suppressing ‘content critical of President Trump’ in the US, California governor claims – as investigation looks into whether it 'violates' state law

By Rowan Davies Published 28 January 26

California Governor Gavin Newsom is launching a review of TikTok's potential violations after more users are reporting anti-Trump censorship.

Hapiko's Stickerbox generator showing an image, with two hands on either side

I’m all for weird tech, and this viral AI sticker maker has just shot to the top of my list of recent obsessions

By Rowan Davies Published 28 January 26

Stickerbox by Hapiko has taken social media by storm. Here's how it uses generative AI to make custom stickers.

This popular free YouTube function could be locked into its paid Premium plan — and I won't be happy if I have to sign up for another subscription service

By Rowan Davies Published 27 January 26

A new YouTube experiment shows that its free-to-use playback-speed tool could be locked into the YouTube Premium plan.

Neil Young performing at Glastonbury festival in 2025

Neil Young takes swipe at Trump and gives his entire music catalog to Greenland for free — and says his ‘music will never be available on Amazon, as long as it is owned by Bezos’

By Rowan Davies Published 27 January 26

Neil Young is standing in solidarity with Greenland by offering his music to residents for free, and he also had some things to say about Bezos.

Alex Honnold high in the air as he climbs the Taipei 101 skyscraper

Skyscraper Live proves that Netflix is still figuring out its live events – here’s why viewers couldn’t get past its 'insufferable' commentary

By Rowan Davies Published 26 January 26

Viewers who tuned into Netflix's Skyscraper Live were baffled by the show's unnecessary commentary and over-produced façade.

14 Comments

YouTube Music just got a big queue upgrade that users have wanted for years – and now Apple Music fans are demanding the same

By Rowan Davies Published 26 January 26

YouTube Music users can now pick up where they left off across Android and iOS devices, but Apple Music has yet to do the same.

ICYMI header image with Sony Buds, Spotify Playlists, and Polar Loop band.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from LG's massive OLED TV news to glorious Whoop clones

By Hamish Hector Published 24 January 26

Here's the top news stories from Sony, LG, Spotify and more for January 24, 2026.

Two smartphones showing the AI artist Sienna Rose. One phone shows a TikTok video of hers, and the other shows her Spotify artist page

‘We think it’s vitally important to be transparent with listeners and fair to artists’: Deezer says viral ‘singer’ Sienna Rose, with millions of Spotify streams, is an AI fake

By Rowan Davies Published 23 January 26

'Singer' Sienna Rose is riding the Spotify charts, but her entire act is an AI-generated façade.

Wide screen television displaying youtube tv streaming service interface in a contemporary living room setting

YouTube TV is solving an issue that subscribers have been complaining about for years – this is how it’s lifting its ‘all or nothing’ subscription plans

By Rowan Davies Published 22 January 26

YouTube TV is scrapping its Basic Plan for over 10 new specialized subscription tiers, as well as a big upgrade for multiview streaming.

Two smartphones showing Spotify's Prompted Playlists feature

I’ve been trying out Spotify’s new Prompted Playlist tool, and it could be a smash hit if the platform tweaks these minor issues

By Rowan Davies Published 22 January 26

Spotify just launched Prompted Playlists in the US and Canada, and it's a clever new playlist-making tool, but it could do with some TLC.

Netflix says a big mobile app redesign is coming – and subscribers are bracing themselves for another UI nightmare

By Rowan Davies Published 21 January 26

There's a new Netflix update coming to mobile, and it's bringing a new vertical feed to your account.

‘Maybe you’re developing a case of selective hearing’: Alexa+ gets sassy with user after they accuse it of making up false commands

By Rowan Davies Published 21 January 26

Users are reporting that Alexa+ could be making up false requests, and it's giving them a sassy attitude in return.

6 Comments

An impressive Spotify audiobook upgrade could be on the way, and as a non-reader, I’m dying to give it a go

By Rowan Davies Published 20 January 26

Do you switch between physical and digital books a lot? This new Spotify audiobook feature could be a lifesaver

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the studio recording an episode of the Joe Rogan podcast

‘I can’t stand what it writes’: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon share their views on using AI to write movies, but admit it could become a new editing tool

By Rowan Davies Published 19 January 26

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are not sold on AI writing movies, but that doesn't mean they don't think it won't become a common editing tool like CGI.

New year, new upgrades – here are 5 improvements I want Spotify to make in 2026

By Rowan Davies Published 17 January 26

2025 was great, but 2026 could be even better. These are the upgrades I need to see from Spotify this year.

A closeup of the Gmail App Store listing on iPhone

Gmail could fix your biggest regret soon – evidence grows that you’ll be able to change your embarrassing email handle

By Rowan Davies Published 16 January 26

Google is even closer to letting you change your old Gmail address, and this is my chance to put my embarrassing handle behind me.

Zendaya looks over her shoulder in Euphoria

Euphoria season 3: everything we know about the popular HBO Max show’s return

By Tom Power Last updated 15 January 26

Updated Euphoria season 3 will arrive on Max next April – here's what we know about it so far.

Zendaya as Rue in Euphoria season three, sat in a truck with her feet on the dashboard

Euphoria season 3 was the last thing I thought I’d be excited for in 2026, but its action-packed trailer has hypnotized me like a moth to a flame

By Rowan Davies Published 15 January 26

Euphoria season three's production delays have fueled my frustration with the HBO Max show, but the new trailer is blockbuster-worthy.

A man sat on a couch pointing a remote at a Roku TV

Amazon partners with Roku to expand its collection of free streaming content – here’s where you can access its 50 new channels

By Rowan Davies Published 14 January 26

Fire TV is getting another slew of free streaming channels, now you can watch The Roku Channel without a Roku device.

Screen shots of Spotify's search hub and Made For You hub

Spotify denies it’s pushing unwanted AI slop onto subscribers, claiming it ‘does not promote or penalize tracks created using AI tools’

By Rowan Davies Published 14 January 26

Spotify says it's not the reason why unwanted AI music is appearing in your Discover Weekly playlist.

An iPhone showing Spotify in the Apple app store, laying on top of a laptop keyboard

AI music is flooding Spotify, and subscribers are furious — here’s why music fans 'no longer trust Discover Weekly'

By Rowan Davies Last updated 14 January 26

Have you noticed AI-generated music in Spotify? These users have, and they're done with it.

Two Google Pixel phones showing two conversations in Google Messages on a colorful graphic background

Google Messages is getting a big update in 2026 — here are the 3 new WhatsApp-style features to look out for

By Rowan Davies Published 13 January 26

This is the year that Google Messages finally gets group chat mentions, and a more advanced long-press menu.

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