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.
After demoing Android XR glasses for the first time in December 2024, my takeaway was that rumors about how Google was behind in augmented reality were greatly exaggerated, if not outright wrong. A year later, Google is on the verge of releasing “AI glasses” with a display in 2026 and they fully realize the vision of Google Glass.
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The Google Store has kicked off its 2025 Black Friday deals, with these Pixel offers available until December 2-6.
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Google today is celebrating the 15th birthday of Play Books. The service started as “Google eBooks” on December 6, 2010.
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Google is rolling out a number of updates to Chrome Autofill, including Google Wallet integration and a slightly better design on Android.
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With Wear OS 6, Google promised “more consistent always-on behavior” (AOD), and the Pixel Watch is starting to do this across three key experiences, including the Timer app.
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Besides announcing Call Reason this week, Phone by Google is testing a shorter bottom bar to comply with Material 3 Expressive.
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Google today officially detailed the new Fi Web Calls & Messages that started rolling out yesterday. The MVNO acknowledges that there are a “few changes to how things work under the hood.”
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Following the announcement at I/O 2025 in May, Google Wallet is letting users set up nearby pass notifications.
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Google has rolled out a new camera to the NotebookLM app that lets you quickly upload images and use them as sources.
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As of this coming Friday, Google will have opened four retail locations in 2025. Google Store Georgetown is coming tomorrow to serve the Washington, DC area.
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After testing earlier this year, Google Messages is now rolling out a big redesign and modernization of its photo viewer.
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After previewing last month with the launch of Gemini 3 Pro, the new Deep Think mode is now available for Google AI Ultra subscribers.
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Back in October, Google said Fi Wireless would “update web calls and messages.” This works by introducing a new Google Fi Web Calls page, while RCS is now handled by Google Messages for web.
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As part of yesterday’s Android 16 QPR2 launch and new features drop, Google is ending Samsung’s exclusivity on continuous Circle to Search translations.
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Following Android and iOS last month, the Gemini web app is getting its redesign, with Google aiming for a “clean, modern look.”
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After teasing at I/O 2024 and announcing this April, Google today is launching Workspace Studio as a new automation tool that lets you “design, manage, and share AI agents” powered by Gemini 3’s multimodal understanding.
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Android is testing new scam protections in the US to combat sophisticated social engineering tactics that “trick users into sharing their phone screen” and bank apps.
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Following YouTube and YouTube Music, Google Photos is continuing the annual retrospectives with its 2025 Recap.
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Besides the new features introduced with Android 16 QPR2, the December 2025 Pixel update includes several bug fixes across Audio, Battery & Charging, Bluetooth, Camera, Display & Graphics, Framework, Sensors, System, Telephony, Touch, User Interface, and Wi-Fi.
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In addition to Android 16 QPR2, Google today is rolling out a pair of updates to the Messages (group chat warnings) and Phone (Urgent call reasons) apps.
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With the December 2025 security patch, Google is rolling out the stable Android 16 QPR2 update for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
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Google is making AI Mode more ubiquitous with a new design that transitions users from AI Overviews, while Gemini 3 Pro is expanding internationally.
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In September, Google started testing a new document scanner on Android, and this Material 3 Expressive redesign is now seeing wider beta availability.
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Last December, Android XR was officially announced. Google is now following that up with a “future of Android XR” livestream on December 8.
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