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.
The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
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Earlier this year, Google Messages seemed to have settled on a new design for read receipts. The RCS app rolled that back, but is now pursuing one element of that big redesign.
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Google’s goal with Gemini is to build a personal, proactive, and powerful assistant. The final tentpole is the underlying model, while Personal Intelligence became free earlier this year. The Gemini app is now readying “Proactive Assistance.”
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So far, five Google icons have undergone gradient updates. 9to5Google can now report on a complete gradient redesign for Gmail and other Google Workspace apps.
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Following the initial launch in two countries, Google Wallet for Android now supports three more passport IDs.
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Last year saw four Google Store openings, and the next one in San Diego marks the company’s 10th retail location in the US.
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Google today teased an upcoming redesign of the “Fitbit Community” and “Google Home & Nest Community.”
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In addition to the Sleep Score redesign, Fitbit this week is rolling out version 4.68 of the Android and iOS apps as a sizable update.
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Over the weekend, we reported on the Fitbit Air and Google Health. We now have our first look at the Google Health brand.
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The split-view Now Playing redesign that YouTube Music has been working on since last year is now widely rolling out.
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With the final scheduled release for the Android 17 Beta coming last week, Google today is already moving on to Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1.
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Waymo autonomous vehicles date back to Google’s self-driving car project that started in 2009. As of today, you can get a ride in 11 cities across the US.
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Fitbit Public Preview users are getting a redesigned Sleep Score experience with “actionable advice that will help improve your sleep health.”
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Besides Workspace Intelligence, Google announced a suite of new Workspace features across Drive, Sheets, Meet, and more at Cloud Next 2026. These updates are rolling out over the coming weeks.
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At Cloud Next 2026, Google today announced “Workspace Intelligence” to provide “highly accurate, personalized context for every app.”
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As previously teased, Google Wallet for Android now offers Live Updates for tracking your current flight.
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Instead of having to use Gemini Live for extended speaker or smart display interactions, the Gemini for Home voice assistant is adding Continued Conversation.
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Gemini in Chrome is now coming to users in Asia Pacific after previously only being available in four countries.
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Google AI Studio provides access to Gemini models via your web browser, with AI Pro and Ultra subscribers now getting expanded usage limits.
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At the end of March, Google started teasing a screen-less Fitbit band. 9to5Google can now report that this device will be marketed as the “Fitbit Air.”
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Visually, Gemini Live has remained mostly unchanged since launch, but Google is now testing a redesign that removes the fullscreen interface on Android.
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A bug with the Gemini app today is responsible for several recent features being rolled back.
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After rolling out to Google AI subscribers earlier this month, the Gemini app has now launched notebooks to free users.
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Based on the latest Android Canary and Android 17 Beta releases, Google is working on a Pixel “laptop” of some sort that will feature a “Pixel Glow” hardware feature.
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