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.
As desired by more than a few users, Google Messages is getting ready to add a “Show expressive animations” setting to presumably turn off Reaction and Screen Effects.
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Google should standardize when it kills products and major features instead of doing it sporadically throughout the year. The current approach, especially for the average user, is too hard to keep track of, and contributes to the perceived — deserved or not — sense of impending doom with Google services.
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Fitbit’s integration into Google continues with Google Wallet replacing Fitbit Pay on smartwatches and trackers in July.
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Besides Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest devices, the online Google Store is now selling company merch. Swag includes water bottles, clothing, and some actual toys.
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Following the last update to gemini.google.com in early March, Google is expanding international availability of the Gemini mobile app and adding a useful shortcut in Chrome.
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The Google Drive web client is updating its existing keyboard shortcuts to make possible “first-letters navigation.”
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Quite a few of Google’s Wear OS apps already offer Tiles, with more from Messages and Wallet maybe on the way if a Play Store collection is to be believed.
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After testing earlier this year, YouTube Music for Android is widely rolling out a sheet-based Cast menu redesign.
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Last month, YouTube TV brought Multiview to the iOS app and it’s soon rolling out on Android.
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In the US, the Google Store has brought back a discount on the Pixel Watch 2 in both Wi-Fi and LTE versions, but the real deal is in the UK where the cellular model is 62.5% off.
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With Android 15, Google is testing a move of At a Glance from its top-left lockscreen position to the very bottom.
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With Chrome 124 on Mac, Windows, and ChromeOS, Google has updated the address bar, or Omnibox, with ML models to offer better suggestions.
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Google today highlighted how the Play Store “fought bad apps and bad actors” in 2023 through a mix of new technical advances and policy updates.
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After on and off testing over the past few years, Google looks to have widely rolled out simultaneous app downloads and installs on the Play Store in a nice quality of life improvement.
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Following the “Google Fitbit” branding change last month, the fitbit.com online shop is no more, with the Google Store taking over.
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Following the recently rolled out verification change that requires more frequent authentication, Google Pay on Android has been tweaked with an “Open Wallet” shortcut.
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Google this week opened its latest hardware office in Taiwan for Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest development.
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Welcome to the seventh episode of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. We talk about the Android-Pixel reorg, the new 4K Chromecast with Google TV, and some Pixel Tablet rumors.
This is the least important part of the next 4K Chromecast — RAM, then storage (fight me in the comments below), but I don’t think “Chromecast with Google TV” is a good name/brand by any stretch.
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Following the big update that added public transit directions last month, Google Maps has tweaked its Wear OS Tile to provide quick access to the map.
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After previewing in late November, Google Messages is slowly rolling out Custom Bubbles that let you theme the color and background of RCS chats.
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The Google Play Store this evening inadvertently detailed a new experience called “Cubes” that lets you “Watch, shop, and more in one place.”
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In recent days, the Fitbit Dashboard available on the web has been bugging out — by going blank — amid speculation that Google might be shutting down the site for an app only experience.
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While we wait for the official announcement, the latest leak of the Pixel 8a really emphasizes the curves and bezels.
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