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 work on the Chrome version continues, Google announced the Privacy Sandbox for Android in February to make mobile advertising more privacy-conscious. A Privacy Sandbox Developer Preview is now available today “on top of” Android 13.
Expand Expanding Close
Back in December of 2020, YouTube started letting users restrict alcohol and gambling advertising. These ad limits are now being expanded to Google’s broader Display network and cover more sensitive categories.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung improved on Android 12’s big widget push by letting you combine them and have multiple occupy the same spot on your homescreen. After being exclusive to the latest One UI 4.1 phones, Smart Widgets are now appearing on Samsung’s Galaxy tablets, including the Tab S8.
Expand Expanding Close
Gmail very rarely goes down, but an hour-long outage this afternoon saw the Google service not work for some. Not all users were impacted, and those affected couldn’t send or receive emails.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is expanding what content you can request the removal of in Search to more types of personally identifiable information as part of a policy update. This now covers phone numbers, email addresses, or physical addresses.
Expand Expanding Close
Following iOS picture-in-picture support and an update on surround sound availability last month, YouTube TV is working on a better family sharing experience for televisions that adds a built-in account switcher.
Expand Expanding Close
Compared to the previous implementation on the Pixel 4 series, Google does not have any traditional, dedicated hardware to power face unlock on the Pixel 6 Pro, which we reported last week was originally planned for the launch – instead, here’s how it might work.
Expand Expanding Close
Every year, Google recaps how it “fought bad apps and developers.” The 2021 edition comes a day after the company’s latest initiative, the Play Store’s Data safety section, has started to roll out.
Expand Expanding Close
Most Chrome features these days are rolled out via server-side updates instead of browser updates. One such example of that is a small tweak to the autofill popup in desktop Chrome that greatly improves usability when filling out forms.
Expand Expanding Close
The last few days of Pixel Watch leaks have been solely focused on the pebble-shaped puck, but we now have a look at the Google-made band and several shots of the wearable actually being worn on a wrist.
Expand Expanding Close
After touting a “quarterly sales record” during the last earnings call, Sundar Pichai said today that the Pixel 6 is the “fastest selling Pixel ever.” The Alphabet CEO also teased more hardware and Android announcements for I/O 2022.
Expand Expanding Close
Alphabet today announced Q1 2022 earnings with $68.01 billion in revenue. These numbers range from January to March, and kick off the company’s fiscal year.
Expand Expanding Close
Google is updating the toolbar menus that appear in the Docs web client with a focus on making it “easier to locate the most commonly used features.”
Expand Expanding Close
Beta 1 of Android 13 is available today and will be most people’s introduction to Google’s next major OS version. We’re diving into today’s release of Android 13 Beta 1 to find what new features have been added.
Expand Expanding Close
Today marks the first time that Google is running two Android Beta Programs simultaneously. Those running Android 12 QPR3 Beta 2 on their Pixel do not have to wipe their device to get Android 13 Beta 1.
Expand Expanding Close
Google usually launches the first beta of the next major version of Android at I/O in May. The cycle this year has been accelerated and Android 13 Beta 1 is rolling out earlier than normal for Pixel phones today. The install process is now just a simple opt-in, but there’s one thing existing QPR3 Beta users should watch out for to avoid wiping their device.
Expand Expanding Close
Just over a year ago, Google and T-Mobile (in the US) announced that they were working together on Pixel, RCS, and YouTube TV. Google One is also part of the partnership and T-Mobile customers will soon be able to pay $15 per month for Unlimited Google Photos backup.
Expand Expanding Close
Google announced that the Play Store was getting a “Data safety” section last May, and it’s now beginning to roll out after a brief delay. The new section will be fully available over the coming weeks, and full developer adoption is set for July.
Expand Expanding Close
With the design fully leaked, questions about Google’s Pixel Watch turn to the software and internal hardware specs. One clue about the health capabilities is how the Pixel Watch’s rear sensors are very similar, if not identical, to ones found on the Fitbit Charge 5 and Luxe.
Expand Expanding Close
Following real-life images yesterday, the person currently in possession of a Pixel Watch is doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) of sorts about the Google wearable leak and reveals more hands-on details, like the size.
Expand Expanding Close
In April of 2020, YouTube Music replaced “Hotlist” with the “Explore” tab. A small addition that’s presented as a new way to access Explore more or less obviates its position in the bottom bar.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the first near-final look earlier this week, real-life images of the Google Pixel Watch have leaked today.
Expand Expanding Close
9to5Google can report today that Google’s original plan was to launch the Pixel 6 Pro with face unlock, but the feature was pulled relatively close to launch.
Expand Expanding Close
Since 2017, Google Cloud has offered a Speech-to-Text (STT) API that third-parties can take advantage of in their own services. The newest models for Google speech recognition improve accuracy due to a “major” technology improvement, and are particularly suited for creating voice UIs.
Expand Expanding Close