I love reporting the news, and it’s something I’ve been doing day-in and day-out for well over a decade. The entire 9to5Google team is passionate about the work it does.
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Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
3 features that Google still hasn’t launched
This is a list of features that Google has shown off but not yet launched. It goes a bit beyond features that are just slowly rolling out and enters the realm of possibly scrapped.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat Gemini app upgrades you get with Google AI Plus & AI Pro
While the free tier of the Gemini app allows you to be quite productive, subscribing to Google AI Plus or AI Pro unlocks a lot more.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet on Android phones now shows Wear OS payment history
As previewed earlier this year, the Google Wallet app on phones can now show payment history made by Wear OS watches.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet on Android rolling out order tracking dashboard using Gmail [U]
Following the homepage redesign, Google Wallet for Android is adding online order tracking in the US.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s everything new in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 [Gallery]
With Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 today, Google is rolling out a third wave of bug fixes for Pixel devices.
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Snapseed Camera on Android adds grid lines & levels
Since the big 4.0 release in May, Snapseed for Android has been rolling out bug fixes, with the latest update adding more Camera interface customization.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 for Pixel
Following last week’s release, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is rolling out today for Pixel devices. For developers, this build introduces the Platform Stability milestone with finalized APIs.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Health CLI now available to access your data & build tools
As previewed, Google Health now offers a command-line interface (CLI) that allows users to access their data and build tools like dashboards.
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Google rolling out Pixel Camera 10.4
Pixel Camera 10.4 is now more widely rolling out via the Google Play Store as a minor update.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Drive’s Ask Gemini & AI Overviews come to Android with AI Pro
After debuting on the web earlier this year, Google Drive is bringing Ask Gemini and AI Overviews to mobile.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini Spark now supports 3rd-party apps, including MCP, adds real-time topic updates
In addition to macOS app support, Google is rolling out two more updates for Gemini Spark. This 24/7 personal agent is available for Google AI Ultra subscribers.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini Spark rolling out to macOS app for local tasks, automation
As previewed at I/O 2026, Gemini for macOS now supports Gemini Spark. This is the first of two big desktop app updates coming this summer, with the other being a new voice experience.
Expand Expanding CloseNotebookLM adding Short Video Overviews with Nano Banana 2 Lite
Google today announced Nano Banana 2 Lite and preview availability of Gemini Omni Flash as its latest media generation models for developers, as well as NotebookLM users.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle releases ‘Pixel Audio Services’ for Pixel 10 on Play Store
Google has released a new Pixel Audio Services application for the Pixel 10 series.
Expand Expanding CloseGmail Live now in testing on Android and iOS
Following the announcement at I/O 2026 last month, Google is now testing Gmail Live on Android and iOS.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out per-app controls for Android Backups
Following last year’s settings redesign of Android Backups, Google is now rolling out per-app backup controls.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat’s new in Android’s June 2026 Google System Updates [U]
The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet’s Gemini-powered ‘Take notes for me’ comes to Google AI Pro, Ultra
Following Workspace availability in 2024, “Take notes for me” in Google Meet is now available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Home Speaker uses 99% less adhesive than Nest Audio [Gallery]
Google’s environmental reports for the Home Speaker include a look at how the new Gemini device is made and images of the internals.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat new Google Messages features are rolling out [June 2026]
Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages starts rolling out custom ‘Chat themes’ [U]
Google Messages is finally giving Android users more customization and personalization options with “Chat themes.”
Expand Expanding CloseGemini’s new Google Play Store integration lets you chat to find Android apps, games
As previewed at I/O 2026, the Gemini app on Android now integrates with the Google Play Store.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out first Fitbit Air firmware update
Following two big Google Health app updates, the Fitbit Air is getting its first post-launch firmware update.
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