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.
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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With Google Podcasts shutting down in 2024, YouTube Music is getting the ability to add podcasts via RSS feed. This is now rolling out for the first users.
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In addition to battery percentage, the Fitbit app is rolling out goal celebrations and the Steps streak in response to user feedback about the initial Material You redesign.
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As we’ve been tracking, Google is now beginning to roll out “Profile discovery” in Messages for Android to establish your name and photo across the RCS app and others.
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Google and WhatsApp today announced a change where WhatsApp chat and media backups on Android will “start counting toward your Google Account cloud storage limit” from December 2023 onward.
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As the Epic v. Google lawsuit continues, we learned today that Samsung devices, as of early 2019, accounted for “half or more” of Google Play revenue.
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Last month, Fitbit detailed a handful of upcoming changes for its redesigned app in response to user feedback, including the return of battery percentage for trackers and smartwatches.
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If your Pixel phone on Android 14 has been repeatedly rebooting (in a bootloop), Google has a “specialized” fix that involves manually installing an update via the Pixel Repair Tool.
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Last month, Google opened its third retail location in Mountain View, following Chelsea and Williamsburg. The next Google Store will be in Boston.
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Google is redesigning Drive’s homepage on Android and iOS with a more compact UI to “help you more easily find the right file much faster.”
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While I think the “Laser Ink Display” projector on the Humane Ai Pin is pretty cool and makes for a very interesting user experience, I do not think this product is anywhere close to replacing the smartphone.
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Given the tall aspect ratios of today’s phones, Gboard in landscape orientation often takes up most of the display (and leaves only a few lines of text visible), but Google now has a floating alternative.
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Back in September, Google announced a Material You redesign of desktop Chrome that’s now more widely rolling out.
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As we spotted over the weekend, Google Chat is getting a new icon, as well as redesigned navigation on the web app with dedicated views for “Home” and “Mentions.”
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Google yesterday recapped recent Home app launches while teasing the ability to “see more data from sensors” that might already be rolling out.
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After years of teasing, Humane today fully unveiled its Ai Pin, a wearable camera with laser projector, for $699 and a $24 per month subscription to access cellular connectivity and other services.
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Google Play’s work to boost app quality on Android continues today with a requirement for wider testing before release.
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For the past several months, Google Messages has been working on a Profiles feature, and we now have a better idea of what it’s for.
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Ahead of tomorrow’s announcement, many details about the Humane Ai Pin have leaked out, including the price.
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According to leaked internal numbers, YouTube TV grew 48% in the past year and is Google’s fastest-growing product.
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Google is simplifying the process of setting up its browser on iOS by getting rid of Chrome Sync.
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Google Messages has seen a flurry of new features start rolling out this week, but the app appears to have lost Magic Compose.
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The Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) is getting a huge international expansion in over 120 new countries and territories and a handful of new generative AI-powered features.
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