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.
One thing that I thought we’d see more of in 2025 was how Gemini could control your Android phone. There was the May demo and other underlying work, but we don’t have Google’s complete vision yet.
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The portfolio of Pixel-exclusive apps grew in 2025 in a trend that will only continue as Google works to differentiate its experience. Notably, availability was not limited to just new devices.
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Zooming out, it’s amusing that Apple and Google both chose 2025 to overhaul the design language of their operating systems. Android’s Material 3 Expressive redesign has been well received, but I want to focus on the updates to Google apps.
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With the Pixel 9, Google introduced a new Panorama mode, and the latest Camera update brought it to the Pixel 8 series.
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Following last week’s release, Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.1 is rolling out with one fix for Pixel devices.
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YouTube announced Playables in 2023 as lightweight games that could be accessed on the platform. The new Gemini 3-powered YouTube Playables Builder lets anyone build a game without any coding experience.
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After ending its Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, the Google Store has posted its final offers for the 2025 holiday season on Pixel devices.
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Following last week’s quiet release of Find Hub for Wear OS, Google is rolling out support for map layers on Android.
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The latest Gemini for Home updates are focused on camera improvements for Nest and other compatible devices.
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Like most Google apps, Messages A/B tests many features. However, it takes the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch these capabilities in stable even after they are announced. From various reports, Google itself, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
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For over a year now, YouTube Music has been testing various Now Playing screen redesigns on Android and iOS.
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It’s not hyperbolic to say that Google has been very thirsty about Nano Banana following its viral success. In Google Messages, the access points for the Nano Banana-powered Remix are being greatly toned down following the November launch.
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On Wednesday, Google started rolling out a second December 2025 update for Pixel phones, with factory and OTA images now available for manual install.
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NotebookLM is getting in a few more features before the holidays, including an upgrade to Gemini 3 and Data Tables.
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Some Pixel owners today are getting a new December 2025 update today after installing the initial release (Android 16 QPR2) at the start of this month.
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Back in March, Google said Gemini would replace Assistant on Android phones this year. That “upgrade” is now set for 2026.
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As part of open-sourcing Google Sans and Google Sans Flex, the company’s design team this week detailed the modern history of its fonts.
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While it’s not a holiday gift made of bricks like in years past, Google Fi subscribers can get a free Pixel Watch 3 LTE this holiday season.
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Following yesterday’s big launch, the Gemini app is adding a “new way to prompt with Nano Banana” by drawing or annotating directly on images. Additionally, SynthID now works on video.
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Android 16 QPR3 will finally let you adjust the brightness of your Pixel’s flashlight from the Quick Settings Tile.
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Android 16 QPR3 is the next notable quarterly update coming in March 2026, and Beta 1 is rolling out today for Pixel devices.
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With Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1, Google is finally letting Pixel owners remove At a Glance from their homescreen.
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The preview cycle continues today with Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 now available for Google Pixel devices. This follows the stable QPR2 launch at the start of December.
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Besides Gemini 3 Flash today, the Gemini app on the web is rolling out a new NotebookLM integration.
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