In addition to announcing the August 13 event, Google today is out with the first Pixel 9 Pro tease.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle teases Pixel 9 Pro with Android and Gemini focus [Video]
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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.
Google announces early August 13 event for Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3
Google this morning announced that its annual Pixel hardware event will be taking place on August 13. This is incredibly early for 2024 with Made by Google usually taking place in October.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet adds support for hotel keys
When Google Wallet relaunched in 2022, Google set out to replace your physical wallet and work towards that continues with support for hotel keys.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle no longer developing Material Web Components
Google is “no longer actively staffing” Material Web Components (MWC) and has “reassigned the engineers working” on it.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube adds ‘Your podcasts’ page, Google Podcasts shuts down internationally
YouTube is improving the podcasting experience outside of its Music app with a dedicated “Your podcasts” page.
Expand Expanding CloseReport: Google working on character chatbots, could integrate with YouTube
Google, specifically the Labs team, is working on chatbots that feature a personality and/or emulate existing characters/people.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube tests letting viewers ‘Hype’ a video
YouTube is testing a “Hype” feature that lets viewers boost the likelihood of a video “appearing in the rankings with other hyped videos that week.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store now sells Pebblebee Find My Device trackers
The Google Store in the US and Canada now sells Pebblebee’s Find My Device trackers.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini side panel officially rolling out to Gmail, Google Docs, & more Workspace apps
As announced at I/O 2024 last month, the Gemini side panel is now rolling out to paid Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides customers, including Google One AI Premium.
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Android 14 QPR3 with June Feature Drop rolls out to T-Mobile, Google Fi
Almost two weeks after the update was announced, Android 14 QPR3 with the June 2024 Feature Drop is rolling out to Pixel phones on T-Mobile, including Google Fi.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Gemini for students, Read Aloud in desktop Chrome, and more
At the ISTE 2024 education conference, Google announced the latest Chrome — like Read Aloud in Reading Mode — and Gemini features for schools.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages now lets you view larger contact photos
A nice quality-of-life improvement for Google Messages lets you tap on contact photos in the conversation view.
Expand Expanding ClosePixelated 015: Stolen phones and tracking woes
Welcome to the fifteenth episode of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the Android 15 Beta 3 and Find My Device trackers.
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Google’s AI focus isn’t on making a phone assistant – it’s pursuing the real world
To date, the most widely used assistants have let you interact with phones via voice commands. The utility of being able to use your mobile device hands-free is obvious.
Expand Expanding CloseVPN by Google One shuts down
As announced in April, users no longer have access to VPN by Google One today.
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Pixel VPN by Google responsible for apps and websites not working
If you’re having issues with some — but not all — websites and apps failing to load on your Pixel, VPN by Google might be the issue.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel getting more descriptive overheating warnings
At the moment, your Pixel shows a “Phone is getting warm” warning when it’s overheating. Google is working on more descriptive messages that don’t require navigating to an online support article for more information.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music redesigns albums and playlists on the web
After making the miniplayer persistent, the latest update for YouTube Music on the web is a redesign of albums and playlists.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle coupon code discounts Pixel Watch 2 by $100
As it did last year/generation, Google is emailing out an offer code that discounts the Pixel Watch 2 to $249 or $299
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Android 15 Beta 3: Wallpaper picker redesign might let you share AI backgrounds
Android 15 Beta 3 introducers a new wallpaper picker that might let you share the AI backgrounds that you’ve generated on the Pixel 8+.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube will ask iOS users to ‘Allow’ tracking for more personalized ads
With iOS 14.5, Apple required app developers to tell users about and have them opt-in to broader tracking. In 2021, Google apps stopped certain tracking methods (IDFA) to comply and not have to show that prompt. YouTube will soon ask iOS users if they want to opt into “more personalized advertising” with an App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt.
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The Pixel Tablet briefly supported Google’s new VPN
For a few days, Google’s new VPN for Pixel owners briefly worked on the Pixel Tablet, but support has been pulled in recent days.
Expand Expanding CloseGmail now lets you switch between a simple or advanced toolbar
On the web, Gmail is now offering a simple toolbar UI when reading emails and taking action on your inbox.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 15: Screenshot preview redesign, Markup preps gen AI stickers
Android 15 Beta 3 makes some tweaks to the screenshot preview UI, while revealing work on Pixel-exclusive generative AI stickers.
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