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

Google Messages is getting a new weapon to keep you safe from impersonation scams – here’s how it works

By Rowan Davies published 26 August 25

A new feature has been spotted in Google Messages beta that allows you to verify your contacts' devices with a QR code.

Screen shots of Spotify's new playlist mixing feature enabled

I’ve been using Spotify’s new answer to Apple Music’s AutoMix – here are 5 of your biggest questions answered

By Rowan Davies published 24 August 25

I've been exploring Spotify's new custom transition feature, and I've got the answers to your burning questions right here.

Peacemaker, Google Pixel 10, and Hornet next to each other.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Google's Pixel 10 release to Gamescom's biggest reveals

By Hamish Hector published 23 August 25

The week's biggest news from Made by Google, Gamescom, and Spotify fopr August 23, 2025.

Google denies that a YouTube Premium feature is coming to free users with a few catches

By Rowan Davies last updated 22 August 25

YouTube is giving free users the option to download videos for offline viewing, but it has quite a few limitations.

Spotify's new audio mixing feature in a personal playlist

Spotify’s new rival to Apple Music’s AutoMix is here to upgrade your playlists – and I think it’s the better DJ too

By Rowan Davies published 19 August 25

Spotify just dropped its version of Apple Music's AutoMix, and it's quite a big addition to the service. Here's how I got on with using it for the first time.

Want to use Spotify to improve your wellbeing? These are 3 features I use to get me through the day

By Rowan Davies published 18 August 25

YouTube users are furious about its new AI-powered age checks in the US, and they’re not holding back – here’s how they work

By Rowan Davies published 14 August 25

YouTube's AI age checks have come into effect in the US, and users are furious about it.

Image of the Spotify Home page next to a Fresh Finds playlist

I’ve taken my Spotify playlists to the next level with these 3 new tricks – here’s why you should too

By Rowan Davies published 13 August 25

I've started using these 3 new Spotify tricks to help boost my playlists, and I think you should too.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff series: everything we know about the Hulu reboot so far

By Rowan Davies last updated 13 August 25

Updated Hulu is making a Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff series – here's what we know so far about plot rumors, cast speculation, and more.

Taylor Swift at the 2025 Grammy Awards next to an image of a new Taylor Swift curated Spotify playlist

A strange new Taylor Swift playlist has appeared in Spotify – here’s how to find it and why it’s a new era for music streaming

By Rowan Davies published 13 August 25

A new Taylor Swift album is coming our way, and the singer is teasing it in this mysterious new Spotify playlist.

I've been a Spotify subscriber for 10 years, but it needs to do these 5 vital things if it wants me to stick around

By Rowan Davies published 12 August 25

Despite being a Spotify fan, it needs to make these five changes if it still wants my loyalty.

iPhones with Apple Music and Spotify screens and Airpods on orange background

I’m a huge Spotify fan but Apple Music does these 7 things much better – and they’re tempting me to switch

By Rowan Davies published 12 August 25

After using Apple Music for three months as a Spotify fan, these 7 features are convincing me to switch.

Spotify's audiobooks add-on has finally rolled out in the US - here are 3 other new features you may have missed

By Rowan Davies published 11 August 25

Finally, you can remove that awful Create button

An image of the new Instagram Maps feature in the messages section of Instagram

Instagram’s new Maps feature has sparked major privacy worries – here’s how to make sure it’s turned off

By Rowan Davies published 11 August 25

Meta recently announced the new Instagram Maps feature, but it's bee met with an angry response from users online.

Robbie Williams depicted as a chimpanzee in semi-biographical film Better Man, one of the best new Prime Video movies

What I streamed in July 2025 – 9 movies and shows I loved on Netflix, Prime Video and more

By Rowan Davies published 2 August 25

We're over halfway through 2025, and my streaming roundups are still going strong. These are my favorite movies I streamed in July.

Jason Mamoa in a still from the upcoming film Chief of War on Apple TV+

5 new Apple TV+ shows you should stream in August 2025

By Rowan Davies published 1 August 25

The run of Apple TV+ summer titles is still going, and these five new shows are the next ones coming to one of the best streaming services.

A woman holding a smartphone with Spotify app

Spotify introduces face-scanning age checks for UK users, as some furious fans threaten to return to piracy

By Rowan Davies published 31 July 25

Spotify is the latest app to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, with users being asked to verify their age in order to access the platform's adult content.

A screenshot of the Spotify library page and create button

Spotify could soon let you hide its most annoying new button – and fans couldn't be more relieved

By Rowan Davies published 30 July 25

Is Spotify finally allowing you to get rid of the Create button? Here's what we know so far about the new function.

The Apple Music app icon against a red background on an iPhone.

Apple Music fans are obsessed with AutoMix in iOS 26, but one big flaw could be its downfall

By Rowan Davies published 28 July 25

Apple Music's AutoMix feature is one of the standouts in iOS 26, but subscribers have picked up on one limitation that affects the streaming experience.

The watchOS 26 update announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.

The watchOS 26 public beta is imminent – here are 5 great free upgrades every Apple Watch will get, plus 4 you could miss out on

By Rowan Davies published 22 July 25

With watchOS 26 right around the corner, these are 5 features that all Apple Watch owners will be able to use – and 4 that are coming to selected models only.

YouTube Music now lets you sync playback progress on different devices, but Spotify got there first

By Rowan Davies published 21 July 25

YouTube Music is taking inspiration from Spotify once again with the addition of a new 'Resume' feature, but it's still early days.

A screen shot of Spotify's new Audiobooks+ tier and the audiobook in-app hub

Spotify is improving audiobook access for its family plan subscribers – here’s what to expect from Audiobooks+

By Rowan Davies published 18 July 25

Reading is fundamental

Visual Intelligence providing a summary in iOS 26

I’m a serial iPhone screen-shotter, and I can’t wait to use these 3 new features when iOS 26 launches

By Rowan Davies published 16 July 25

The full iOS 26 roll out is getting closer, and these 3 new iPhone screenshot functions are the first ones I'll be testing.

Alexa+ is due to roll out to more users soon, but one of the next-gen voice assistant’s best features may have been pushed back

By Rowan Davies published 16 July 25

Amazon has pushed back the launch of the desktop version of Alexa+without giving a clear reason.

Loyal Spotify users are angry again – here are 3 reasons why people are annoyed with sponsored music recommendations

By Rowan Davies published 16 July 25

Spotify Premium subscribers are expressing frustration online over the app's sponsored music recommendations, and there are 3 common reasons why.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
View Archive

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions:

Rowan Davies

Useful links