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 is in the final stages of phasing out support for third-party cookies in Chrome. Ahead of a wide rollout in the second half of 2024, Chrome in January will start testing “Tracking Protection.”
Expand Expanding Close
On Monday, Beeper Mini started working again but without phone number support. That workaround appears to be dead two days later, which is just in line with what Apple said to expect over the weekend.
Expand Expanding Close
Android 14 introduced a “Data sharing updates for location” dashboard. Users were warned today that Google Messages is sharing location data with third parties, but this is not the case.
Expand Expanding Close
Quick Phrases let you take voice actions on alarms/timers and calls without having to first say “Hey Google” on Pixel phones, as well as Pixel Buds Pro.
Expand Expanding Close
Following last week’s consumer-facing announcement, Google is launching Gemini Pro for developers and enterprises through AI Studio and Vertex AI.
Expand Expanding Close
Pixel Watch Unlock is most likely rolled out on your phone, but Google placed the set up process in a less than obvious location.
Expand Expanding Close
The Google Wallet app on Wear OS has been updated with the ability to access your loyalty cards.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube Music rolled out a Now Playing redesign that placed key controls in a carousel and made other UI tweaks in September, and it is now getting a gradient background.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is rolling out the December 2023 update to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. Only the LTE model of the second-generation wearable got an OTA last month, while it comes just under a week after the phone/tablet Feature Drop.
Expand Expanding Close
Night Sight really helped establish the Pixel as a camera powerhouse early on. We’ve been waiting for a video version that takes things to the next level, and we’re almost — pending the rollout — there.
Expand Expanding Close
Aggressive Pixel 8 and 8 Pro sales that reward existing users of Google services continue today with a further $125 off the phones if you’re a YouTube Premium member.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Weather rolled out to all Pixel phones in October, and the redesign is now appearing on Samsung and other Android devices.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is making a big change to how it stores Location History data on Android and iOS. Instead of that data being stored in the cloud, Google will be locally saving Location History to your device with end-to-end encrypted cloud backups for “Your Timeline” in Maps also offered.
Expand Expanding Close
Smart Chips let you do a lot in Docs and other Workspace apps, and Google is now adding a prominent “@” button shortcut.
Expand Expanding Close
The final run of Google Store sales before the holidays are now live. Some of the deals are on par with Black Friday/Cyber Monday, but new today is the first Google Store discount on the Pixel Watch 2.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s wind-down of 2023 continues with the annual “Year in Search” video, though the company this year eschewed the usual theme format by recapping trends from the past 25 years of Search.
Expand Expanding Close
As part of Google’s work to optimize its first-party apps for Android tablets and other large-screen devices, Chrome is defaulting to desktop mode.
Expand Expanding Close
Back in October, Google Fiber said it would soon offer residential 20 Gig service, and it’s now detailing the price and where it will initially be available.
Expand Expanding Close
The Android 14 QPR2 preview continues with Beta 2 today, and the factory/OTA images are available for all Pixel devices out of the gate.
Expand Expanding Close
In November, Google started the Android 14 QPR2 preview earlier than expected, and Beta 2 is now rolling out for Pixel phones, Fold, and Tablet.
Expand Expanding Close
Back in May, we reported how Wear OS 4 would introduce Material You, and the first – blue – signs of Dynamic Color theming are appearing on the Pixel Watch.
Expand Expanding Close
Large language models (LLMs) will make possible a slew of new capabilities in consumer apps over the coming years. Google has explored creating a personalized chatbot that can “answer previously impossible questions” about your life by setting LLMs loose on your Google Photos library and other sources.
Expand Expanding Close
On Friday afternoon, Beeper Mini on Android stopped working and Apple confirmed today that it “took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage.”
Expand Expanding Close
In the past, you have been able to redeem Play Points for Google Store discounts. Google is now running a much deeper offer where US Play Points Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members can get 40% off the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and Tablet.
Expand Expanding Close