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.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics kicking off next week, Google today announced a partnership with Team USA and NBCUniversal to “spotlight helpful Google features” across broadcast, online, and social platforms.
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Cash App announced today that it will soon be a “preferred alternative payment option when checking out” in the Google Play Store on Android.
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In honor of World Emoji Day, Google shared some updates about Emoji Kitchen, like a YouTube Shorts integration, and when we can expect the newest characters on Android.
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The Find My Device network’s offline capabilities work with Android phones and tablets, as well as trackers, today, with Wear OS — and Pixel Watch — support in the works.
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The focus in the lead up to Made by Google 2024 has been on the Pixel 9, but we now have leaked European prices for the Pixel Watch 3.
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After initially being limited to Google Assistant-level commands, activating Gemini on the Android lockscreen now lets you ask “general questions.”
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Project IDX is Google’s web-based development environment, and the technology is now being used to bring Android Studio to the web.
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After expanding Markdown syntax support in 2022, Google Docs is adding some “highly-requested features” to improve interoperability “with other Markdown supporting tools.”
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Google is readying a new 45W USB-C charger that will presumably launch with the Pixel 9 series next month.
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Back in November, Google Search Labs launched a Notes experiment and it’s now coming to an end with the feature ultimately not launching.
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The latest Pixel 9 series leak comes from a regulatory agency, with everything from close-up shots to even basic teardowns.
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Photography is the original claim to fame for Google’s phones, and a Pixel 9 Pro camera leak today details what to expect this year.
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The US Google Store is kicking off “Summer savings” that coincide with Amazon’s Prime Day. Discounts on Pixel phones, Tablet, Watch, Buds, and accessories end on July 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT. There are also Nest smart home offers that end on July 21.
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Gemini today offers six first-party extensions and it’s now getting a seventh from Data Commons, which is a Google initiative that aims to organize “the world’s publicly available data and makes it more accessible and useful.”
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In addition to announcing sound search and AI-generated conversation radio today, YouTube Music is rolling out “Mark as played” for podcasts.
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The Google app is working on new Weather homescreen widgets. They look to overhaul/replace the existing set of widgets that are currently exclusive to Pixel, and will hopefully be available for all Android devices.
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Google is working on the latest set of Material 3 components, including a Floating App Bar and FAB menu. Keep in mind that Google has yet to announce these components, so they’re still a work-in-progress and might change.
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After rolling out Number Lock last week to follow the latest FCC rules around SIM swapping, Google Fi is now complying with the regulatory agency’s Safe Connections Act (PDF).
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With less than a month until Made by Google 2024, the latest leak suggests that the Pixel 9 Pro will come with 1-year of Gemini Advanced.
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A follow-up to last week’s Pixel 9 series leak compares the smallest phone in the lineup to the Pixel 8, as well as an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
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YouTube Music today is making official sound search, while acknowledging that it’s testing the “AI-generated conversational radio” for US Premium subscribers.
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With the “Show expressive animations” on/off setting now widely rolled out, Google Messages is rolling fullscreen Screen Effects back out.
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Over the course of 2024, Google Maps for Android has been working on a redesign that drops most fullscreen UIs in favor of sheet-based layouts. This revamp is now more widely rolling out.
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The Google Search app for iPhone and iPad, which basically is its own browser, now offers customizable homescreen icons.
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