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 Design is exhibiting at Milan Design Week 2023 with “Shaped by Water.” That installation also happens to include a table of Google products, including the unreleased Pixel Tablet in a new coral color.
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Presentations are a big part of video calling, and Google Meet is now letting users co-present Google Slides with support for multiple people.
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Following math and logic enhancements last month, Google has updated Bard to generate code, as well as debug and explain it. The company says this can “help you by offering new ways to write code, create test cases, or update APIs.”
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After various teasers, Humane today finally revealed its product. Ex-Apple designer Imran Chaudhri demoed the combadge-like (in Star Trek parlance) device at the TED 2023 conference.
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YouTube’s Library tab has remained mostly the same over the years, but it’s now dropping the long list of playlists for a carousel that shortens the page on mobile.
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There are only a handful of changes in Android 13 QPR3, but a surprising one in Beta 3 today tweaks the design of 3-button navigation.
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While Android 14 is now in public preview, the Android 13 QPR3 preview continues with Beta 3 today.
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In 2019, Google made it so that turning on/off a light via voice command would not be accompanied by a verbal Assistant response, and this is now applying to other smart home devices.
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DeepMind is regarded to be one of the top machine learning and artificial intelligence research labs. After being an Alphabet company for the past several years, it’s now being folded in to form “Google DeepMind.”
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In 2019, Jack Dorsey announced a project to “create an open and decentralized standard for social media.” Bluesky has spent the past several years developing the underlying protocol. After an iOS app in February, Bluesky for Android is now available as an invite-only beta.
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We shared a few more details about the Pixel Tablet at the start of this week, but the one piece that has yet to emerge is pricing. As Google I/O 2023 nears, leaks about that are starting to appear.
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Android 13 introduced a new design for the media player that required developers to update their apps, and Apple Music is only now doing so.
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With the Android 14 Beta 1 now a week old, Google is seeking the first wave of feedback from Pixel testers. People reporting bugs will not be a surprise, as Beta 1 — in our experience — is not ready for daily driver usage.
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In 2018, Google’s MVNO dropped the “Project” from its name. The service is now called “Google Fi Wireless” with a bigger family plan focus, redesigned mobile app, and expanded smartwatch support.
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Back in December, Waze announced an Android Automotive app, and it’s now seeing wider availability on the Polestar 2 and other Volvo cars.
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We still don’t know how much the Pixel Tablet will cost, but the “Standalone Charging Dock” is apparently $129 and will be available in colors other than Chalk.
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Google announced NFL Sunday Ticket pricing for YouTube TV (and Primetime Channels) last week, and followed with an FAQ today.
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In a nice quality of life improvement, Google Meet will let you “turn off the video feed from other participants” on the web, Android, and iOS.
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A new report on the Pixel Fold confirms it will indeed be announced at I/O 2023 next month and launch in June with a handful of other specs, like how much it will weigh, emerging today.
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I actually like Google Discover. So much so that I tolerate the presence of ads because its recommendation algorithm is pretty good. That might be changing as Google is showing a “Quotes for you” section that I think sends Discover over the edge into pure clickbait territory.
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As the Google Home Public Preview continues, the company is rolling out a trio of features with a particular focus today on improving the camera experience.
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9to5Google has a rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. Sign up to get it early in your inbox, or continue reading 9to5Google Log Out below:
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In addition to Play Credits and application-specific in-app purchases (IAPs), you’ll soon be able to redeem Play Points for Google T-shirts.
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Chrome is currently set to phase out third-party cookies in 2024, and Google has been working on privacy-preserving alternatives for ads and publishers. Google Ads today shared the results of an experiment comparing the existing system to the upcoming replacement.
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