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 Tasks is set to replace Assistant reminders next month. Ahead of that, Google has brought online a website that lets you directly access Google Tasks.
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In October, Waymo announced that its ride-hailing service is coming next to Los Angeles following Phoenix and San Francisco. Waymo vehicles have now started “fully-autonomous (no human driver) testing in LA.”
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Following the dual-pane layout optimized for Android tablets (and Chromebooks) in November, Google Keep is getting a single note widget and a pair of Wear OS 3 complications.
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Google is rolling out a handful of new accessibilities feature for Android (Chrome zoom) and Wear OS 3 (sound and display modes) as part of a modest Spring feature frop.
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With the Fixed on Pixel Super Bowl commercial, a new tagline was introduced: “The only phone engineered by Google.” The latest Google ad campaign continues that and is emphasizing “Pixel Value.”
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The Pixel Watch has so far received three monthly updates, and its next one for March looks to be bigger with new features possible instead of just bug fixes.
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YouTube certainly took its time adding dedicated podcasting features after watching the medium – in video form – naturally flourish on the platform. Hopefully, that wait translates to being very careful and considerate about how audio podcasts appear in YouTube Music.
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After a slew of tablet optimizations for Workspace and other Google apps, Gmail for Android is now getting a two-pane view on foldables.
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Magic Eraser was previously exclusive to the Pixel 6 and 7. Yesterday, the editing feature saw its availability significantly expand to any Google Photos users on Android and iOS that’s subscribed to Google One, including the cheapest plan. There are two ways to look at this move.
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In the coming months, Google is expected to add a slew of AI features to its products, with some already rumored for I/O 2023. Gboard for Android is now working to integrate the Imagen text-to-image generator.
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In addition to announcing that podcasts are coming to YouTube Music today, Google provided some clarity on the future of Google Podcasts.
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Google Docs is adding a bunch of new features to Smart Canvas, which aims to boost integration between apps, like a stopwatch and Calendar template.
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In a rather surprising move, Magic Eraser, one of the Pixel’s best features, is coming to any user of Google Photos for Android or iOS if they’re subscribed to Google One.
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While the mobile Workspace apps were quickly updated alongside Android 12’s Pixel launch in fall of 2021, it took much longer for Material Design 3 to arrive on the web. Following the Gmail redesign last year, Material You is coming next to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
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Gmail for Android and iOS lets you sign into non-Google accounts to read and send emails. Microsoft Outlook and Hotmail integration in Gmail is currently broken.
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After Android 13 QPR2 Beta 3 and Beta 3.1 with the February security patch, Google is rolling out Beta 3.2 to Pixel phones.
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In Android 14, Google will roll out the new Predictive Back Gesture and its in-app version. Ahead of that, Google is surveying developers about it.
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After an eight-year gap, Tanlines on Tuesday announced a new album called The Big Mess coming in May. Ahead of that, they released a new song called “Outer Banks” that uses Google Meet as the setting for a music video.
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Microsoft sees its browser as an important aspect and entry point for the new Bing. Microsoft Edge on Windows is now showing a rather aggressive ad on the Chrome download page to dissuade people from switching.
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The Pixel 7 is now four months old and starting to get eclipsed by the next generation of flagships. Google Fi is now discounting the Pixel 7 Pro to $449 via 24 monthly bill credits.
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What separates a smartwatch from a fitness tracker? To me, it’s the ability to see notifications from your phone, replying to messages, taking calls, music controls or even on-wrist playback, and third-party apps.
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While Google’s Wear OS 3 weather experience is quite nice, the Android “app” is a bit more barebones and getting long in the tooth. Google Weather is now seeing a dark theme, but this might be an accident.
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Since last year’s “Get the Message” advertising campaign online and in New York City, awareness of Rich Communication Services (RCS) is growing more mainstream. Google is now making RCS even more consumer-facing by prominently surfacing the name of the standard — a brand, of sorts — in Messages for Android.
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YouTube Music today officially announced its “Create a radio” feature after it widely rolled out earlier this month on Android and iOS.
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