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.
As part of Safer Internet Day, Google Search is rolling out a pair of updates to Results about you and the non-consensual explicit images removal tool.
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When the Android desktop interface leaked last month, there was a Gemini icon in the status bar. We now know a bit more about that persistent access.
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After teasing in December, “YouTube TV Plans” are rolling out this week as cheaper alternatives to paying $82.99 per month for over 100 channels.
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After testing in recent months, YouTube Music looks to be widely rolling out a Premium paywall for lyrics.
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Google’s work to make the NotebookLM mobile app as full-featured as the website continues with Slide Deck and Infographic customization.
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Google has set out three tentpoles for Gemini: personal, proactive, and powerful. The company made big strides on the first pillar with Personal Intelligence, but there’s a very obvious blind spot with messaging.
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Following the web earlier this week, Gemini is giving the Tools menu on Android and iOS a redesign. There are also changes to My stuff in the side panel.
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Google has steadily released new Android Canary builds since July, and now has a new dedicated community for the program on Reddit.
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At the Super Bowl — sorry, I mean “Big Game” — this Sunday, Google is airing an ad all about the Gemini app.
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Alphabet today announced Q4 2025 earnings with $113.8 billion in revenue. These numbers range from October to December and wrap up the fiscal year.
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Google this morning officially announced the Pixel 10a via a video teaser emphasizing the updated design.
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It’s been clear for a while that Google is working to let Gemini control your Android phone, and we now have some details on how this “screen automation” will work.
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The year in updates continues with the February 2026 security patch for Android 16 QPR2 on the Pixel 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
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As the Gemini app picks up more features, Google is improving organization of the Tools menu on the web with Experimental Labs.
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With Android 16 QPR3, Google is introducing more granular Adaptive Connectivity settings on Pixel phones.
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Version 4.8 of the Google Home app widely rolled out today with a “foundational fix” for the “Video not available” error with Nest Cams.
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After testing in December, Phone by Google has now rolled out a “Keep portrait mode on calls” setting to prevent automatic landscape rotation.
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After the inaugural 2026 deals, the US Google Store has brought back the same discounts on the Pixel 10 series and Pixel Watch 4.
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Following the Live guide redesign earlier this month, YouTube TV for Android now uses the new YouTube icon style.
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Google AI Plus came to the US this week as the more affordable alternative to AI Pro, which previously served as the entry point to premium Gemini features. Whether it’s worth downgrading comes down to how you use Google AI.
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There was a genericness to the first wave of AI features in Google products. Absolutely everyone was doing straightforward text and image generation, and that contributed to the tacked-on nature. Fortunately, we’ve moved past that and Gemini integrations are starting to feel highly unique and play to Google’s strengths.
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NotebookLM is adding Video Overviews support and the ability to customize Infographics to the Android and iOS apps.
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Genie 3 is a “general-purpose world model capable of generating diverse, interactive environments.” Google is now letting AI Ultra subscribers in the US access it with Project Genie.
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Gemini today is rolling out a “major upgrade” to the Google Calendar “tool” that allows you to manage shared and secondary calendars.
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