Published May 1, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT Bertel is a lifelong tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience writing thousands of articles about Android devices, Linux, and more.  Before joining the How-To Geek team, Bertel wrote for the likes of MakeUseOf ,  MakeTechEasier , and Android Police —at the latter he wrote over 3,500 articles. He delights in helping others decide which tech to bring into their lives... and which tech to do without. Bertel graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2012 with degrees in History and Government. He has spent his entire career since as a tech journalist covering Android, Linux, Wearables, Web Apps, and more. Thanks to all the tracking algorithms and ads, it’s easy to forget how fun discovering a new app can be. If you want to explore new apps on your phone this weekend, I’ve done the work of trying out software that you can enjoy without any of the crud. One is completely free, while the other two are partially free and very affordable to fully unlock.…