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

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.

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.

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.

This useful Spotify access feature could be coming to OnePlus and Oppo earbuds, following the likes of Sony and Bose

By Rowan Davies published 15 July 25

A new code has been found that points to a possible Spotify Tap integration with OnePlus and Oppo earbuds, but it still has a long way to go.

YouTube removing the Trending page looks out of touch – it needs to fix these 3 much bigger problems first

By Rowan Davies published 14 July 25

Over the coming weeks YouTube will be retiring its Trending page in favor of YouTube Charts, but there are other problems it needs to fix first.

Android 16’s answer to iOS Live Activities is coming soon – here are the apps it’ll support, including Google Maps

By Rowan Davies published 4 July 25

The first-look images to Android's version of iOS Live Activities has dropped, but an official roll out date is still in question.

Spotify's new visual upgrade to it Discover Weekly playlist

I never use Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist, but its big new upgrades could change that

By Rowan Davies published 30 June 25

Spotify is celebrating 10 years of its Discover Weekly playlist in style with two brand new upgrades to one of its most-used functions.

I'm a die-hard Spotify fan using Apple Music for the first time – here are three things I love and three I truly hate, so far

By Rowan Davies published 27 June 25

I've subscribed to Spotify for nearly 10 years, but I've been using Apple Music for the past month – these are my 3 biggest likes and dislikes so far.

I'm a Spotify power user – here are 5 lesser-known features I use every day

By Rowan Davies published 26 June 25

Use these 5 hidden gem Spotify features to fine-tune your music and improve your audio streaming game.

I used Spotify’s AI playlist feature for the first time in a year, and it's way better than I remember – but there's still room for improvement

By Rowan Davies published 26 June 25

It's been a while since I used Spotify's AI playlist feature, and it was an interesting return to say the least.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from Oakley's next-gen smart glasses to our first week with Alexa+

By Hamish Hector published 21 June 25

The past week's biggest tech news from Trump Mobile, Oakley, Meta, Amazon, and more.

Screen shots of Spotify's AI DJ generating a new listening session

I dismissed Spotify’s AI DJ for years – here’s why I’m finally warming up to the streaming giant’s most divisive feature

By Rowan Davies published 20 June 25

I've never been a fan of Spotify's AI DJ, but recently I've greeted it like an old friend because of this one new upgrade.

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