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 is rolling out an unexpected update for Nest Mini and Audio smart speakers – and it’s all thanks to Gemini

By Rowan Davies published 17 October 25

An update is giving existing Google Nest speakers some new colored lights, reminiscent of Gemini's branding.

Meta is axing the Messenger app on Mac and and Windows, but hasn’t told us why

By Rowan Davies published 17 October 25

On December 15, Meta will be shutting down its Messenger apps on Mac and Windows for good.

Google Messages is doubling down on scam prevention with two new safety measures – this is how you can keep your inbox clean

By Rowan Davies published 16 October 25

Google Messages has launched its new Key Verifier tool, as well as new scam link alerts.

Spotify’s first ever TV channel is coming exclusively to Samsung TVs – and it’s completely free to access

By Rowan Davies published 16 October 25

Bill Simmons' The Ringer podcast network is coming to Samsung TV Plus as a free 24-hour channel.

An iPhone showing the new typed requests function in Spotify AI DJ

Spotify AI DJ is getting another slew of useful tools, but I’m still hooked on its audio mixing feature

By Rowan Davies published 15 October 25

Spotify AI DJ gets typed requests and personalized prompts, as well as music requests for its Spanish version, DJ Livi.

Spotify managed accounts controls for the Premium Family plan

Spotify’s Premium Family plan just got a big upgrade for parents – and it could save their Spotify Wrapped, too

By Rowan Davies published 14 October 25

Managed accounts for Spotify Premium Family are coming to more markets, but it's more than just a parental control feature.

Google Photos is expanding with 3 new photo editing and organization features – and one of them is strikingly similar to a popular Instagram tool

By Rowan Davies published 14 October 25

Upgraded facial retouching could be coming to Google Photos, as well as a new 'add text' function that's similar to Instagram's.

3 Comments

The Pixel Watch 4 has been crowned the smartwatch king in one key area – even beating the Apple Watch

By Rowan Davies published 13 October 25

Google is changing the game with smartwatch reparability, and Apple should take note.

Man holding iPhone 11 with service YouTube Music Premium on the screen

YouTube Music is channeling Spotify’s AI DJ with this new feature – and early testers love it despite one big frustration

By Rowan Davies published 13 October 25

Despite some frustrations, beta users are enjoying YouTube Music's new AI host – especially its music trivia commentary.

Frankie Rodriguez and Glen Powell in a still from the trailer for Chad Powers

‘Given to me as a gift’: Chad Powers stars reveal why they fell in love with their characters off the football field

By Rowan Davies published 11 October 25

Chad Powers' Wynn Everett and Frankie Rodriguez are the unsung heroes of the new Disney+ show.

Netflix's new TV party games on a TV screen

Netflix is bringing these 5 fun party games to your TV soon – and this Among Us-style clone could be the highlight

By Rowan Davies published 10 October 25

Lego Party!, Tetris Time Warp, and Pictionary are some of Netflix's upcoming party games.

A new Google Nest Hub is finally coming – here’s what it needs to compete with Amazon’s stunning new Echo Show

By Rowan Davies published 9 October 25

A new Google Nest Hub smart display is in the pipeline, and it's coming with Gemini smarts.

Perry Mattfeld and Quentin Plair stood side by side in a still from the Disney+ show Chad Powers

Playing Glen Powell’s coaches in Chad Powers wasn’t easy, stars from the new Disney+ show admit ‘it was definitely a challenge'

By Rowan Davies published 4 October 25

Chad Powers stars – Perry Mattfeld and Quentin Plair – discuss their characters and reveal where they want their stories to go in the new Disney+ show.

The Disney+ app homepage showing Hulu content

Hulu gets a global launch – as Disney+ reveals 3 big changes coming to your homescreen

By Rowan Davies published 2 October 25

Hulu is set to replace Star in the Disney+ app as of October 8 – and your Disney+ homescreen will get a few upgrades in the process.

Spotify finally lets you remove individual songs from your algorithm – and now I can stop myself getting side-tracked by my guilty pleasure listens

By Rowan Davies published 2 October 25

The new feature allows you to have more control over your taste profile, and help shape a more accurate Spotify Wrapped recap.

The new Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max side by side

The Echo Dot Max is the Alexa+ speaker I’ve always dreamed of – but these 3 features would make it even better

By Rowan Davies published 1 October 25

Finally, we have a flagship Alexa+ speaker, and I'm really impressed. It just needs three more features to make it an unstoppable smart speaker.

The new Google Home Speaker and Echo Dot Max side by side

Google Home Speaker vs Amazon Echo Dot Max – here’s how the two big smart speaker rivals compare

By Rowan Davies published 1 October 25

From AI smarts to subscription plans, this is how Google and Amazon's new smart speakers compare.

Amazon has just announced its first-ever 4K Ring video doorbells with Alexa+ features – here's what we know so far

By Rowan Davies published 30 September 25

The Amazon hardware event is in full swing, and here's the new line of Ring Retinal 4K cameras.

A phone on a pink and blue background showing the Spotify app's Queue in the Now Playing view

Is Spotify finally fixing one of its most annoying features? This is how it could be improving its shuffle function

By Rowan Davies published 30 September 25

Spotify could be making more changes to its shuffle button, allowing you to have a more 'random' playback experience.

Glen Powell as Chad Powers holding a football in the Disney Plus show Chad Powers

Chad Powers creator on comedy inspirations, larger-than-life heroes and the chances of Disney+ renewing the series

By Rowan Davies published 30 September 25

I sat down with Chad Powers co-creator Michael Waldron to talk about his next big Disney+ and Hulu show.

A man at DJ decks in a promo photo for Spotify integration with djay

Is Spotify Mix already overshadowed? This audio-mixing software lets you mix Spotify’s entire music library

By Rowan Davies published 25 September 25

Algoriddim's audio-mixing tool djay now allows you to access all of Spotify's music catalog.

Man holding a smartphone with the YouTube app opening

YouTube is finally letting you hide one of its most annoying features – and you’re going to be thankful for this

By Rowan Davies published 25 September 25

After constant user complaints, YouTube is letting you get rid of end screen pop-ups – although the solution is far from perfect.

WhatsApp users have been begging for message translations for two long years – and now it’s finally here

By Rowan Davies published 24 September 25

First Apple introduced Live Translation to Messages, and now WhatsApp is following through with its own version.

3 Comments

Apple Music in the iPhone app store on an orange background

AutoMix compatibility is frustrating Apple Music subscribers – these are the devices the audio-mixing tool actually works with in iOS 26

By Rowan Davies published 23 September 25

Despite the AutoMix craze, Apple Music's biggest iOS 26 upgrade comes with some limitations.

Google Home just got a major update – here are 4 new features you can try right now

By Rowan Davies published 22 September 25

Google has added a new automation editor to the Google Home app, and a handful of other useful upgrades.

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