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 rolling out its latest round of large-screen optimizations for Drive, and the clear trend is how the website UI is coming to Android tablets and foldables.
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With Apple’s RCS for iPhone announcement, Google is undoubtedly moving full steam ahead on Messages and RCS as its consumer messaging app. It is inherently aligned with Android, which bodes well for continued development, and consistently gets a slew of new features.
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Google is out with a Pixel Watch 2 feedback survey (sent to some owners via email) to help improve the product with a pair of interesting questions about battery life.
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The original Pixel Watch’s Wear OS 4 update did not add all the software features from this year’s model, but the six new faces Google created for 2023 are now starting to appear.
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Qualcomm is following last month’s big announcement with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 today. The goal remains bringing more flagship features down the chip lineup.
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Google Fiber is planning to offer residential 20 Gig with Wi-Fi 7 by the end of 2023, and today demoed what it looks like in practice.
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Following the news that Apple is adding RCS support to the iPhone, Google is out with a statement this afternoon.
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Following the announcement in October, Chromebook Plus is heading into its first holiday shopping season, and Google is promoting the gaming aspects in Times Square with a billboard.
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For the past several years, Google Tasks has been restricted to a side panel in Gmail, Drive, and other Workspace sites. Google Calendar on the web is now adding a fullscreen Tasks interface.
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Apple announced (via 9to5Mac) today that it’s adding RCS support to the iPhone in a great boost to Android-iOS messaging.
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Announced at I/O 2023 as “Project Tailwind,” Google today is opening up access to NotebookLM, its AI-first notebook that lets you ask questions about information that users provide.
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With Manifest V3, Google wants to make extensions safer by prioritizing privacy, but was initially criticized for the impact to ad blockers. The Chrome team has since added new features in response and is ready to disable old Manifest V2 extensions in 2024.
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In one of the more interesting and practical AI use cases, the Google SGE (Search Generative Experience) will let you imagine the clothing you want and then shop for real-life matches.
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Google’s Black Friday deals are kicking off a full week before Thanksgiving this year, and of note is a $200 discount on the Pixel 8 Pro that’s paired with slightly higher trade-ins.
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Following the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in September, Google is rolling out Bard access for teens with safety guardrails in place.
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First announced at I/O 2023 in May, Android 14’s “single app” screen recording feature is coming with QPR2.
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Google’s first preview of Android 14 QPR2 is available much sooner than expected, and we are diving into Beta 1 to find what new features have been introduced.
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Instead of QPR1 Beta 3, Google is already moving on to Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 today for Pixel phones, Tablet, and Fold.
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In a rather charming move that certainly has promotional benefits for the brand, Google wants to help animal shelters take better adoption pics by offering a free “Pawtraits Kit” that includes a Pixel 8 Pro.
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Google has been selling its own line of Titan Security Keys for several years now, and new USB-C and USB-A models with NFC today let you store passkeys.
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As international YouTube Premium increases get underway, Google is making official a handful of features for the subscription.
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Following the big app redesign, Google Photos is rolling out a trio of new features, like auto-grouping Photo Stacks.
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In a bid to have Search surface more authentically human content, Google is experimenting with a quick way for people to create and read “Notes” that contain “helpful tips about an article or topic from both experts and everyday people.”
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Ahead of the holiday season, Google Maps is adding shared lists that let people vote on places, as well as filters for transit directions.
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