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 announced yesterday that it disabled image generation of people in Gemini following criticism about its historical accuracy. The company today issued a more detailed explanation.
Expand Expanding Close
Google brought the first set of Gemini Workspace features out of preview for personal accounts earlier this week. “Help me create a list” is now being tested in Google Keep.
Expand Expanding Close
Google today announced an “expanded partnership” with Reddit that sees it get access to the forum website’s data for training and other product uses.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube Music doesn’t have a native desktop client with Google instead relying on a Progressive Web App (PWA). The YouTube Music website might soon add support for offline downloads.
Expand Expanding Close
When Google Wallet launched in 2022, Google kept the “GPay” app around in a handful of countries. The company announced today that the old Google Pay app is soon going away in the US.
Expand Expanding Close
Last month, Google Chrome started rolling out a generative AI-powered Tab Organizer and theme maker. Chrome 122 is now letting users opt-in to “Help me write.”
Expand Expanding Close
Last year, Google introduced an updated 3D robot mascot for Android and you can now “Create your own Android Bot” with a new tool that harkens back to the old days of Androidify.
Expand Expanding Close
According to Nikkei Asia, Google in 2023 shipped “around 10 million” Pixel phones and plans to repeat that “milestone” this year.
Expand Expanding Close
Gboard for Android is beginning to roll out a rather nifty “Scan Text” optical character recognition (OCR) tool.
Expand Expanding Close
As teased, Google is rolling out a redesign for its Account sign-in page across all services that better conforms to Material 3.
Expand Expanding Close
The Pixel Watch 2 introduced more precise haptics and Google might soon offer a feature that can tell the time by vibrating.
Expand Expanding Close
The Gemini app on Android can now set reminders via the Google Assistant integration and Google Tasks.
Expand Expanding Close
As teased earlier this month, the Gemini rebrand is now coming to Duet AI in Gmail, Drive, Docs, and other Google Workspace apps.
Expand Expanding Close
The new Google One AI Premium plan now provides access to Gemini features in Gmail, Docs, and other Workspace apps for personal accounts. Google says the integration lets you “get more done without jumping between tabs or apps.”
Expand Expanding Close
Gemma is Google’s new “family of lightweight, state-of-the-art open models” aimed at AI developers and researchers.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is emailing some Fi Wireless subscribers with a pretty notable promo code offer that gives them “10% off a new line for 2 years.”
Expand Expanding Close
In testing the Gemini app over the past week, my usage of Google Assistant through Pixel Buds Pro has skyrocketed, and I’m actually liking the balance.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the release of Android 15 DP1 on Friday, Google has “temporarily disabled downloads for OTA images.”
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube’s work on optimizing the viewing experience for connected/smart TVs continues with a redesign of channel pages for all Creators.
Expand Expanding Close
Google’s work on Gemini continues with upcoming “Business” and “Enterprise” plans for Workspace customers.
Expand Expanding Close
Last Week Tonight aired its Season 11 premiere last night, but the latest video from John Oliver is not yet available on YouTube.
Expand Expanding Close
With the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch, Google announced that Android Auto would “automatically summarize long texts or busy group chats.” While we wait for this Google Assistant feature to launch, here’s more about how the AI message summaries will work on Android Auto.
Expand Expanding Close
Besides working on generative AI, Google is testing a tweak to how Search indicates what filter you’re currently using.
Expand Expanding Close
With the Material You redesign of desktop Chrome for Mac, Windows, and Linux in late 2023, Google moved the Cast, Send To Your Devices, and Create QR Code buttons.
Expand Expanding Close