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.
Besides the December 2023 Feature Drop introducing a pair of new Pixel Watch capabilities, Google this week updated the Personal Safety app with two Wear OS Tiles.
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The number of announcements that Google made in the past week or so truly felt like I/O. Gemini 1.0 was, of course, the highlight and most consequential for Google.
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In addition to Gboard Smart Reply, Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 Pro powers a “Summarize’ feature in Recorder.
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The thermometer on the Pixel 8 Pro only works to “measure the surface temperature of everyday objects,” but Google did submit an FDA application to take body readings. As we wait for that, the Fitbit app is working on Pixel 8 Pro thermometer integration.
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At I/O 2023 in May, Google demoed an “AI-first notebook” that was originally called Project Tailwind. NotebookLM is now seeing a general release in the US, and – like Bard – will now be powered by Gemini Pro.
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The redesigned Weather experience that’s currently exclusive to Google devices is quite nice, but should really be its own app. Google is slowly getting there by adding a dedicated “Weather” shortcut that appears like any other app on Pixel.
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Back in June, Google updated Gmail for Android so that the notification icon is no longer red, but changed course a few days later. Red has been dropped again, but Dynamic Color is not implemented in its place.
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For the past several years, four Google Children’s Centers have operated in the San Francisco Bay Area. These Google-run day-care centers will be closing next year, but the company is expanding its parental benefits so that more employees, especially those around the world, can partake.
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YouTube in July announced the US price increase for Premium, but grandfathered accounts got to keep the old rate for a few more months. According to an email today, that’s now set to change in January.
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Following yesterday’s announcement, Google says that Video Boost is rolling out “beginning December 7” to the Pixel 8 Pro. While it “may not be available immediately,” the company did detail the experience.
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YouTube is now rolling out a straightforward “Pause” option to its comment moderation tools for Creators.
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Google’s Wi-Fi lineup consists of three routers today, but an ongoing fire sale suggests that the Nest Wifi might be on its way out.
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Google today shared a more precise timeline of when Google Podcasts will stop working in 2024, while export options for YouTube Music and other apps are rolling out soon.
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The new logo for Google Chat that was announced in November is currently rolling out on Android.
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With the December 2023 security patch, Google is rolling out the stable QPR1 update to Android 14 and a big Feature Drop for the following Pixel devices: 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, and 8 Pro.
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The first big update to Android 14 is rolling out today with QPR1 and it contains a number of fixes for both the Pixel 8 series and older supported Google phones.
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Google is rolling out a pretty big December Feature Drop that notably adds Video Boost to the Pixel 8 Pro and other camera features, while Watch Unlock is finally here for the Pixel Watch.
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After being teased at I/O 2023 in May, Google today detailed Gemini 1.0, its next-generation foundation model, and is making it available through Bard.
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Gemini Nano is Google’s most efficient model aimed at on-device tasks and its debuting on the Pixel 8 Pro today with the December 2023 Feature Drop.
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Back in August, Google announced a big redesign of Chat that adds Duet AI and other smart features, as well as audio huddles, to the work-focused messaging service. A new homescreen is core to this revamp, with the straightforward web version announced first. Last week, the redesigned mobile client was introduced with a new take on navigation for Google apps.
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Google is rolling out Pixel Camera 9.2 with a number of updates, like the new UI for older devices and some tweaks for the Pixel 8.
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After introducing a Finance Watchlist for your homescreen earlier this year, the Google app on Android is getting ready to add a Sports widget.
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An upcoming change to Google Wallet on Android will see payment notifications originate directly from the app instead of Play services.
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Besides productivity use cases, ChromeOS also has a footing in digital signage and kiosks. Lenovo is embracing that with the Chromebox Micro, or what Google calls the “first compact Chromebox for organizations worldwide.”
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