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.
The Pixel Watch 3 is barely two weeks old, but I’m already thinking about what comes next. That’s in large part due to this year’s update — outside of the larger screen and smaller bezels — being driven by software.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Maps is getting sharper satellite imagery and more Street View content, while Google Earth will soon let users access more historical imagery.
Expand Expanding Close
After the Collections tab revamp and search updates, Google Photos is now rolling out a redesign of its mobile video editor. The goal is to make it “easier than ever to edit your favorite videos into stunning clips to share.”
Expand Expanding Close
Following the web, Google is giving the Gemini app on Android a greatly simplified homescreen.
Expand Expanding Close
With the launch of its Chromecast successor this week, Google is starting to roll out a number of new Google TV features for the entire ecosystem, like Home Panel.
Expand Expanding Close
The queue on the YouTube Music web client now persists through tab closures and relaunches, while also being able to load your phone’s queue.
Expand Expanding Close
For whatever reason, the Google TV Streamer is only available for pre-order in the US, though the September 24 launch date does refer to international availability. Ahead of Tuesday, some around the world have already been able to buy (and unbox) the Google TV Streamer.
Expand Expanding Close
Google TV is redesigning the top portion of its mobile Android app to allow for a more immersive, search field-less UI.
Expand Expanding Close
Welcome to episode 25 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about RCS on the iPhone and desktop windowing with the Pixel Tablet.
Given the vast nature of Google, the company has a lot of product/service accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and is working to consolidate them. There are two separate instances with Google Pixel and Material Design this month.
Expand Expanding Close
The next notable update (version 7.72) for Pocket Casts on Android and iOS adds support for transcripts and video/audio clip sharing.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube for Android is rolling out a transparent status bar that makes for a nice qualify-of-life improvement.
Expand Expanding Close
At the moment, birthdays that appear in Google Calendar are based on Google Contacts information, but manual creation is now coming.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s passkey adoption push continues with its Password Manager now allowing you to save those credentials to desktop Chrome.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is still selling the Pixel Watch 2 at $249, but some Target locations have the Wear OS device on clearance for $74.99.
Expand Expanding Close
Last week, Google announced that Gemini Live is beginning to roll out for free users, and it’s now hitting the first Android devices.
Expand Expanding Close
Desktop Chrome is getting a handful of enterprise updates, with Workspace users soon able to see their Google Calendar on the New Tab Page (NTP).
Expand Expanding Close
At Made on YouTube 2024, Google announced the latest features for Creators that also enhance the viewer experience.
Expand Expanding Close
One of the more exciting uses of AI in desktop Google Chrome lets you naturally search your browsing history, and here’s how to turn that capability on.
Expand Expanding Close
In addition to a change with the “Hey Google” hotword, some Pixel Buds Pro owners have been prompted about the “touch and hold” gesture no longer working to read notifications.
Expand Expanding Close
Google announced the first wave of Android Cross-device services at the end of May, and we’re now seeing wide availability of Internet sharing and Call casting.
Expand Expanding Close
With RCS rolling out on the iPhone yesterday, Google is looking ahead on new features including cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) between Android and iPhone.
Expand Expanding Close
After rolling out to mobile for some, the Gemini Extensions for Google Keep and Tasks are now available in gemini.google.com.
Expand Expanding Close
After last year’s revamp, Fitbit has been slowly updating more and more of the mobile app, with Heart Rate stats being the latest redesign.
Expand Expanding Close