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.
In the coming months and years, Google will add AI-powered capabilities to its core apps that meaningfully change the experience. This initial wave of additions will share some similarities, and it will be interesting to see how the company brands them. Google will have a number of options, but Assistant seems fairly obvious for these AI features.
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After rolling out Android 13 QPR2 Beta 3 without the February security patch, Beta 3.1 is now here to bring Pixel phones to the latest security level.
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Last March, Google appeared to accidentally roll out a rather significant redesign of the Nest Hub UI. It was quickly pulled, but the visual revamp has since made a surprising, offline reappearance.
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Android 14 Developer Preview 1 is rolling out today to start this year’s preview cycle ahead of an expected Q3 launch.
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Last May, Google Cloud announced Immersive Stream for XR to use cloud-based GPUs (like Stadia) for interactive 3D and augmented reality experiences, like product demos, and it’s now generally available.
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In addition to previewing new AI features for Lens, Maps, and Translate, Google on Wednesday also gave one more example of Bard in action.
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On Wednesday afternoon (PT), some YouTube users are reporting issues with the video site. The primary issue is an empty homepage.
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While the Find My Device app on Android gets the occasional update, Google has not revamped its UI in several years. That’s now changing with a big Material You redesign for Find My Device that also includes a dark theme.
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With longtime virtual and augmented reality boss Clay Bavor leaving next month, Google’s work on AR will now be overseen by Hiroshi Lockheimer and Rick Osterloh.
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The Android 14 Developer Preview and — later — Beta will follow the accelerated timeline established last year.
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For the past few years, Google’s AR and VR efforts have been led by Clay Bavor. The longtime executive is now set to leave the company next month.
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Google announced the Android 14 Developer Preview today. The February release was expected and matches last year, while it comes as 13 QPR2 is still in beta.
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The Bard announcement Google made earlier this week contains a mistake that is contributing to and furthering the negative sentiment about the company’s AI position.
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The Pixel Watch was announced just over four months ago, and its Android companion app has now hit over 500,000 downloads on the Play Store.
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Google Translate is rolling out a trio of updates that add context, modernize the iOS app, and improve camera translations.
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Google is following this week’s announcement of Bard with a slew of new Lens capabilities, including “Search screen” on Android and wider Multisearch availability.
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Google is expanding the availability of AR features in Maps, as well as adding glanceable directions to the Android and iOS lockscreens.
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Besides the football and Apple Music-sponsored Halftime Show, you’ll see a Pixel 7 and 7 Pro ad during Super Bowl LVII this Sunday.
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Back in November, Google Messages started testing the ability to react with any emoji, and it’s now getting wider availability.
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Following the Library revamp in January, YouTube Music for Android and iOS is rolling out a redesign of the album view.
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Until recently, searching for a podcast on Google would surface individual episodes that you could quickly start playing. That’s now being replaced by a podcast directory in Google Search.
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As expected, Microsoft today announced “the new Bing” that offers direct, AI-generated answers.
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Android offers support for a Context Hub Runtime Environment (CHRE), and Google is using it to speed up Fast Pair on the OnePlus 11.
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Desktop Chrome already supports biometric confirmation before auto-filling payment information, and is now getting the option to require your fingerprint to enter saved passwords.
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