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.
While the Pixel 6 ushered in three years of major Android OS version updates and an additional two for security patches, that’s still nowhere near the longevity of the iPhone. Google hopes to change that on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with noticeably more OS updates.
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The Google Home script editor that launched in Public Preview this June is getting its first update across four areas today.
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Following last week’s first-gen Nest Cam Indoor update, Google is boosting the Home app’s automation capabilities with a ton of new starters and actions. This is rolling out starting today for all users without needing to be enrolled in the Preview Program.
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At the start of this month, Fitbit announced a Material You redesign of its app, and I regret to inform you there is currently no dark theme.
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Google Flights already tells you whether current prices are low, typical, or high, and it will now definitively tell you when the cheapest time to book is.
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As part of optimizing phone-sized apps for tablets and foldables, Google replaces the bottom bar for a navigation rail. This puts controls where your hand rests when holding a large screen device, similar to how your thumb has easy access to the bottom edge of a phone, rather than needing a second hand to navigate.
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Google is rolling out ChromeOS 116 with a number of small additions over the coming days.
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The Pixel Fold launched 3-4 months before the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. If you just bought a Google foldable and are mostly happy with it, I highly doubt the 8 series will cause you to change your daily driver.
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Following the last patch a week ago, Google is rolling out Android 14 Beta 5.2 as another bug fixer, especially for the Pixel Fold and Tablet.
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Spotify last month updated its Android app with a new homescreen widget that combines playback controls and recommendations.
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After first appearing in April, YouTube Music is now more widely rolling out live lyrics on Android and iOS.
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As promised, the first-generation Nest Cam Indoor launched in 2015 is now supported by the Google Home app, starting in the Public Preview.
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Following Tuesday’s announcement, Meta is widely rolling out the Threads web app, and it offers a pretty straightforward translation of the mobile experience.
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Back in 2014, Google added a guest mode feature to Chromecast that lets other people Cast to your TV without having to be on your Wi-Fi network. This feature is now being removed.
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Google Workspace announced a slew of new security measures today, including an additional layer of “Verify it’s you” confirmation when doing something sensitive in Gmail.
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Messenger Lite was announced in October of 2016 and aimed at less-powerful Android devices. It eventually became available for all phones, but Meta is now killing Messenger Lite in September.
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Google today announced the latest security features, like client-side encryption (CSE) in the Gmail mobile apps, for enterprise Workspace customers and other corporate environments.
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It’s clear that the Pixel Watch is Fitbit’s top priority. While the Sense 2 advanced on health features and sensors, it regressed on smartwatch functionality by dropping Google Assistant, offline music, and third-party apps. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2022 watch lineup ends up being Fitbit’s last.
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It emerged in June that Google had killed its Iris smart glasses and was going all-in on the Android OEM model for XR. A new report today sheds light on the current state of projects, including how Google is looking to partner on smart glasses.
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Following the “last scheduled update” and a patch on Friday, the Android 14 Beta 5.1 feedback survey is now available to give Google what should be your final thoughts.
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Back in March, we enabled a big revamp of the voice recorder UI in Google Messages, and it has now undergone another redesign.
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Google has worked with Cameyo to give enterprise Chromebooks another way to run Windows applications using ChromeOS Virtual App Delivery.
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Following the large screen Android tablet and Chromebook redesign, Google Photos on the web has been updated with a new editor.
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Before the big redesign that we’ve previously enabled, At a Glance is getting an “About this content” section.
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