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.
After three uncharacteristic patches in recent weeks, Google is rolling out Android 13 Beta 4 as the “final update for your testing and development.” The company said today that we’re “just a few weeks away from the official release of Android 13.”
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Following yesterday’s announcement that Wear OS 3.5 is launching for the Galaxy Watch 4 line in Q3 2022, Samsung has released One UI Watch 4.5 beta 4 to testers.
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In addition to first-party apps, Google Workspace wants to integrate third-party tools into a user’s existing workflow. Google Meet now has another whiteboarding option with Miro.
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You might be aware of Settings Services since a recent update added more sizing options for the Pixel Battery widget, and a Google support article now fully explains what the app is responsible for.
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Recorder is one of Google’s best applications of on-device machine learning (ML), exclusive to Pixel phones. The transcription app surprisingly originated inside the Google Creative Lab as the company sets out to build more “Pixel Smarts.”
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Google launched its YouTube-branded cord-cutting service in February 2017. Over five years later, YouTube TV now has 5 million active subscribers and trialers.
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Following a big drop last month that tied with this year’s high, July 2022 will bring six games to Stadia Pro that are predominantly new to the platform.
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As we first enabled in March, the Google Play Store is getting more Material You tweaks in the form of new buttons.
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YouTube announced last June that Picture-in-Picture (PiP) was coming to its iPhone and iPad apps, and wide availability is now just a few days away for Premium subscribers globally and free users in the United States.
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Since the 2018 launch, Google One has been adding more features for those that subscribe to 2TB or more of storage. The latest addition to Google One is premium Workspace features, starting with enhanced Google Meet video calling.
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The first Chromecast with Google TV update of 2022 is rolling out and comes seven months after the last release.
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The first direct US Google Store deal on the Pixel 6 Pro was in June for Father’s Day, and that’s now being followed with a pretty sizable $200 discount as the Pixel 6 now starts at $499.
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In March, the Google Play Games on PC beta started rolling out as the official way to experience Android titles on Windows, and it’s now coming to Australia and Thailand.
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In addition to the big Material You redesign, Gmail on the web is rolling out a sizable update to the Compose window that aims to let you send “more efficiently and confidently.”
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After introducing real-time lyrics on Android, iOS, televisions, consoles, and the web in November, Spotify is now bringing them to the Nest Hub and other Google Assistant Smart Displays.
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The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Google has “proposed splitting parts of its business that auctions and places ads on websites and apps into a separate company under the Alphabet umbrella.”
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At I/O 2022, Google showed off a major Play Store redesign for large screen devices. Until that’s ready, the Play Store on Android tablets and Chromebooks is picking up some Material You flourishes.
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As of today, At a Glance on Pixel has 14 distinct capabilities and Google is readying three more, with ridesharing status being the most notable.
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Google is aware of an issue that sees Gmail frequently ask if you want to “continue receiving messages from this sender.”
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Google said today that its first-party apps offer over 30 widgets on Android. An upcoming widget from Google Maps will provide the latest on nearby traffic at your current location.
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After previous branding, price, size, and color leaks, we now have our first look at Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro thanks to what should be official renders.
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If you were unable to place an outgoing call with Google Voice this afternoon, that was due to a problem “affecting a majority of users.”
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The Android 12 July security patch was pretty straightforward this morning, but Google is more than making it up with the Pixel’s trio of new frog-filled Curated Culture wallpapers.
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The Pixel Pass is Google’s hardware and software subscription, and the Google Store is now making sure prospective Pixel 6 buyers are aware of it before checking out.
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